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Saudi Arabia Sends High-Ranking Delegation to World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2024 will be held in Davos (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2024 will be held in Davos (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Sends High-Ranking Delegation to World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2024 will be held in Davos (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2024 will be held in Davos (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia announced that a high-ranking delegation will participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, from January 15-19, under the theme of "Rebuilding Trust."

The delegation, chaired by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdallah, includes Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar, Minister of Commerce Majid al-Kassabi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Envoy for Climate Adel al-Jubeir, Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Swaha, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar al-Khorayef, and Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal al-Ibrahim.

- Current challenges

The Saudi delegation will address these era-defining challenges by working with the international community to advance substantive global collaboration, drive economic resilience, build sustainable resource security, and harness human-centric innovation.

It would also explore the opportunities offered by emerging technologies and their impact on the policy and decision-making process.

The Saudi delegation will highlight the social and economic progress made within the framework of Vision 2030, the transformation, diversification, and development witnessed by the Kingdom in various fields, and the multiple investment opportunities available across the nation's thriving economy.

- Competitive capabilities

The Saudi delegation will share its expertise in enhancing the Kingdom's attractiveness as a private and foreign investment destination.

The delegation will also review the best practices and solutions developed by the Kingdom to enhance the economy's resilience and achieve financial sustainability, in line with its ambitions for economic diversification and sustainable growth under Vision 2030.

- Enhancing cooperation

The 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum will discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors to explore future opportunities, review solutions and developments within various economic and development sectors within the framework of international cooperation, and joint work between governments and various institutions.

The Forum brings together representatives from more than 100 governments, major international organizations, and more than 1,000 major private sector players, in addition to representatives of civil society and academic institutions.

The theme "Rebuilding Trust" highlights the importance of joint international action in confronting humanitarian, climate, social, and economic challenges.

- Global risks

In addition, the Global Risks Report 2024 issued by the World Economic Forum warned of a global risk landscape that will witness a decline in human development. It will weaken countries and individuals and expose them to new risks.

Given the systemic changes in global power mechanisms, climate, technology, and demographic distribution, global risks impose significant pressures that may exhaust the world's ability to adapt.

The report said that these matters are among its most prominent findings, which showed that cooperation on global issues is declining and that there is an urgent need to adopt approaches to address global risks.

The transnational risks will become harder to handle as global cooperation erodes.

In this year's Global Risks Perception Survey, two-thirds of respondents predict that a multipolar order will dominate in the next ten years as middle and great powers set and enforce – but also contest – current rules and norms.

WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi said underlying geopolitical tensions combined with the eruption of active hostilities in multiple regions contribute to an unstable global order characterized by polarizing narratives, eroding trust, and insecurity.

Zahidi warned that the situation leaves ample room for accelerating risks – like misinformation and disinformation – to propagate in societies that have already been politically and economically weakened in recent years.

- Misinformation and Conflict

Emerging as the most severe global risk anticipated over the next two years, foreign and domestic actors will leverage misinformation and disinformation to widen societal and political divides further.

Cost-of-living pressures continue to bite amidst persistently elevated inflation, interest rates, and economic uncertainty in much of the world.

Misinformation and disinformation have risen rapidly in rankings to first place for the two-year timeframe, and the risk is likely to become more acute as elections in several economies take place this year.

Interstate armed conflict is a new entrant into the top risk rankings over the two-year horizon as both a product and driver of state fragility.

With many conflicts currently ongoing in different parts of the world, the risks of geopolitical tensions and declining community resilience may lead to the spread of conflict contagion.

- Economic uncertainty and declining development

The continued state of economic uncertainty and the widening of the financial and technical gap are among the most prominent features of the coming years, and the lack of economic opportunities ranked sixth in risks over the next two years.

In the long term, obstacles to economic mobility are expected to increase, which will lead to the deprivation of large segments of the population of economic opportunities.

In addition, countries affected by conflict or climate risks may become isolated from investment, advanced technologies, and new employment opportunities.

In the absence of guaranteed and secure livelihoods, individuals may become more vulnerable to involvement in crime, militancy, and extremism.

- The planet is in danger

It is expected that environmental risks continue to dominate the risk landscape over all three timeframes, while the report called on business leaders to reconsider the steps that must be taken to confront global risks.

The report recommended focusing global cooperation efforts on accelerating the construction of protection barriers against the most urgent emerging risks, such as signing agreements to integrate artificial intelligence in the decision-making process.

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Business

Iraq to Export More Kirkuk Crude Oil Next Month

Oil flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline resumed in late September (Reuters)
Oil flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline resumed in late September (Reuters)
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Iraq to Export More Kirkuk Crude Oil Next Month

Oil flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline resumed in late September (Reuters)
Oil flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline resumed in late September (Reuters)

Iraq will export a ​total of 223,000 barrels per day (bpd) in February, up by 21% on the month, ‌loading programs ‌seen ‌by ⁠Reuters ​show.

January ‌exports were scheduled at 184,000 bpd. Of the February cargoes, eight will be ⁠exported from ‌Türkiye's Ceyhan terminal, and ‍three ‍will be ‍delivered via the Kirikkale pipeline to Turkish refiner Tupras.

Kirkuk ​oil pipeline flows to Ceyhan restarted ⁠in late September after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, with the first exports taking place last October.

Business

From Davos: The World Looks to Saudi Vision, from Reform to Delivery

The logo of the World Economic Forum at the Davos Conference Center (AFP)
The logo of the World Economic Forum at the Davos Conference Center (AFP)
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From Davos: The World Looks to Saudi Vision, from Reform to Delivery

The logo of the World Economic Forum at the Davos Conference Center (AFP)
The logo of the World Economic Forum at the Davos Conference Center (AFP)

At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Saudi Arabia offered a compelling account of how long-term ambition can be translated into measurable results.

Through a narrative grounded in data and outcomes, Saudi ministers traced the evolution of Vision 2030 from structural reform to disciplined execution, presenting the Kingdom as one of the world’s most attractive investment destinations.

Rising capital-formation rates now place Saudi Arabia alongside major economies such as China and India, underscoring growing international confidence in the strength and future of its economy.

On the margins of the forum, a high-level dialogue at the Saudi House pavilion brought together Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi ambassador to the United States; Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih; Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan; Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim; IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva; and Lubna Olayan, Chair of Olayan Financing.

Titled From Reform to Delivery: Implementing Change at Scale, the session examined the next phase of Vision 2030 and how it has enhanced the government’s capacity for evidence-based planning and execution.

Saudi Arabia’s presence at the 2026 forum runs from Jan. 19-23 through an expanded Saudi House program - the largest since its launch - bringing together ministers, senior officials, business leaders and global thinkers.

From vision to policy discipline

Al-Jadaan emphasized that visions and reform agendas cannot be taken for granted. The true test, he said, lies not in designing strategies but in sustaining their execution, an area where many reform efforts around the world lose momentum. Saudi Arabia’s fiscal framework, supported by record foreign reserves at the central bank, has provided the flexibility needed to absorb shocks and maintain reform momentum.

He noted that 93 percent of Vision 2030’s key performance indicators have either been achieved or are progressing as planned. He added that reform has moved beyond individual initiatives to become a permanent institutional practice, supported by a 22 percent rise in financial reserves between 2022 and 2025.

He also stressed that trust and credibility are central to this process. Sustained progress depends on maintaining confidence with markets and stakeholders through pragmatic fiscal discipline and clear prioritization of resources. With fiscal space always finite, sequencing and focus are essential. He pointed to IMF Article IV consultations as a rigorous external validation of Saudi Arabia’s economic direction, noting that ambitions set a decade ago are now reflected in tangible outcomes, with hundreds of indicators either exceeding targets or firmly on track.

Converting strategy into outcomes

Building on this theme, Alibrahim said that turning strategies into results requires clarity of purpose, institutional adaptability and the ability to adjust course quickly. He explained that sustainable transformation cannot be achieved without a conscious approach to managing risk.

According to Alibrahim, Vision 2030’s long-term perspective has strengthened the government’s ability to plan, execute and respond to data, allowing it to change direction when needed while balancing risks and opportunities over both short and long horizons.

Attracting global capital

Al-Falih placed Saudi Arabia’s experience within a broader global context marked by geopolitical uncertainty, strained supply chains and rapid technological change. He noted that capital cannot avoid risk entirely but must find ways to balance it with the need for growth, particularly at a time when the world requires vast investment to navigate major transitions. These include energy digitization and the restructuring of global artificial intelligence supply chains.

He further explained that investors are increasingly drawn to markets that combine scale with access to global opportunities. This, in turn, requires skilled human capital, reliable energy, credible decarbonization pathways, advanced physical and digital infrastructure, and transparent, predictable regulatory systems. He said that few countries offer all these elements together, adding that Saudi Arabia has succeeded in doing so.

Al-Falih continued that foreign direct investment has risen to five times its pre–Vision 2030 level, while domestic investors have also increased their commitments. Capital formation as a share of GDP now matches levels seen in China and India, with visible effects across global supply chains, from shipbuilding on the eastern coast to automotive manufacturing on the western coast, as well as green and blue hydrogen projects developed with international partners.

Energy, markets and new frontiers

Al-Falih noted that the availability of Saudi capital, combined with a partnership-driven approach, has been a decisive factor. The government co-invests alongside the Public Investment Fund, major national companies and the private sector, aligning capital with strategic priorities.

While petrochemicals, fertilizers and mining remain important, the scope of transformation has broadened significantly. Saudi capital markets have become more integrated, the exchange-traded fund ecosystem has expanded, and inclusion in major global indices has lowered barriers for international investors.

At the same time, he said that the Kingdom is moving beyond its traditional role as an oil and gas supplier. It is investing in hydrogen, accelerating renewable energy localization and developing cross-border electricity interconnections with Africa, the Gulf, Iraq and Egypt. Investments in critical minerals and global supply chains now extend to joint ventures in the United States and Asia, supporting demand in a low-carbon economy. Saudi Arabia, Al-Falih concluded, also aims to position itself as a hub for the new economy, including data and artificial intelligence.

Georgieva: A transformation that inspires

Georgieva described Saudi Arabia’s reform journey as a “generational transformation” that spans sectors and places the Kingdom in a position of global leadership. Reforms that reduced the state’s direct role while enabling the private sector to flourish, she said, now underpin the country’s economic resilience.

She highlighted the breadth of diversification — from finance and tourism to sports and fashion — as particularly striking, adding that Saudi Arabia has also emerged as a partner and sponsor of reform beyond its borders, with the IMF office in Riyadh helping to share the Saudi experience with other countries. Concluding her remarks, she urged Saudi leaders and officials to maintain momentum and continue supporting others on similar paths.

Princess Reema, for her part, emphasized that human capital remains the engine of long-term growth. She said that investment in youth, job creation and a supportive social environment, encouraged many young Saudis to build their futures at home.

Lubna Olayan observed that the business landscape has undergone a notable shift. Where large corporations once dominated, small and medium-sized enterprises are now playing a growing role, supported by banks and new financing channels. She noted that economic diversification has opened private-sector opportunities, particularly in tourism, a labor-intensive service industry.

Powell: A model with global relevance

In a separate Saudi House session, Dina Powell McCormick, Vice Chair of Meta’s board, said her 25-year relationship with Saudi Arabia has given her a firsthand view of “extraordinary progress” under Vision 2030.

Recalling discussions in Washington in 2017 during her tenure as US deputy national security advisor under President Donald Trump, she described a long-term roadmap centered on unlocking the potential of a population that is more than 65 percent under the age of 35 and on the expanding role of women as entrepreneurs and leaders.

On technology, Powell said the world is approaching a pivotal moment that could reshape humanity within just three to eight years, making Saudi Arabia’s execution-focused transformation a model of growing relevance well beyond the region.

Business

Nasser from Davos: AI Has Generated $6 Billion for Aramco

The CEO of Saudi Aramco, Engineer Amin Nasser (World Economic Forum)
The CEO of Saudi Aramco, Engineer Amin Nasser (World Economic Forum)
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Nasser from Davos: AI Has Generated $6 Billion for Aramco

The CEO of Saudi Aramco, Engineer Amin Nasser (World Economic Forum)
The CEO of Saudi Aramco, Engineer Amin Nasser (World Economic Forum)

The CEO of Saudi Aramco, Engineer Amin Nasser, on Tuesday revealed fundamental transformations in the company's financial and operational performance thanks to the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies.

He announced that the value achieved from the technology jumped to reach $6 billion during 2023 and 2024. It did not exceed $300 million in previous years.

Nasser explained, during a dialogue session at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum 2026, in the Swiss city of Davos, that artificial intelligence alone was responsible for 50 percent of this value.

He pointed out that the company is looking forward to publishing the figures for 2025 next month, amid expectations of achieving savings and added value ranging between 3 and 5 billion additional dollars.

In his review of the direct impact on operations, Nasser confirmed that the use of artificial intelligence in the exploration and production sector has achieved amazing results.

Nasser directed a message to the global industry, saying: "The matter is not just about buying chips and graphics processing units, but about the quality of the data and creating talent". He noted that Aramco now has 6,000 talents trained in artificial intelligence.

He also revealed the enormous construction size of the company, saying; "Today we have projects worth $100 billion under construction". He explained that integrating artificial intelligence into these giant projects creates added value.

Nasser confirmed that the ambition is directed towards "autonomous operations" in cooperation with major cloud providers, while strictly maintaining safety and control standards.