Al-Ghamdi to Asharq Al-Awsat: SDAIA Adopts 3 Pillars for Building AI Capabilities

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the GAIN Summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the GAIN Summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Al-Ghamdi to Asharq Al-Awsat: SDAIA Adopts 3 Pillars for Building AI Capabilities

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the GAIN Summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the GAIN Summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), said the Authority is building its capabilities on three main pillars: inspiration, development, and sustainability.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the third edition of the Global AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh on Tuesday, Al-Ghamdi revealed that SDAIA has achieved notable results, reaching nearly 600,000 beneficiaries through its AI awareness and inspiration activities.

He stated that the Authority is focused on developing capabilities that can create AI applications and technologies, having empowered around 7,000 specialists and experts in this field to date.

Al-Ghamdi also announced that SDAIA is forming partnerships with major AI companies to enhance capacity building, particularly at the national level. He explained that the Authority will establish partnerships with Microsoft, Dell, Oracle, and several national organizations, stressing that these efforts will significantly contribute to strengthening AI capacity building.

He added that SDAIA is working to raise AI awareness by promoting its proper use and ethics.

The summit brings AI leaders, thinkers, and inventors to Riyadh to discuss key issues in the field and to develop future visions and solutions for the benefit of humanity, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a leader in technology and artificial intelligence, he remarked.

The presence of these elite leaders from major tech companies, academic institutions, and universities in Riyadh will shape future directions for AI in tackling important and critical issues, he stressed.

Among these issues, he noted AI governance, avoiding bias, ethics, and strengthening capacity building in the field, while ensuring learning opportunities for all.

AI is a revolutionary, transformative technology that will reshape the global landscape, impacting daily life, tasks, and business operations, stressed Al-Ghamdi.



Saudi Tourism Minister Announces Support for 17 Tourism Projects in Al-Ahsa

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the main investment opportunities in the tourism sector. SPA
Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the main investment opportunities in the tourism sector. SPA
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Saudi Tourism Minister Announces Support for 17 Tourism Projects in Al-Ahsa

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the main investment opportunities in the tourism sector. SPA
Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the main investment opportunities in the tourism sector. SPA

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb has met with several investors and entrepreneurs in Al-Ahsa Governorate as part of his tour to various regions and governorates of the Kingdom coinciding with the Saudi winter events calendar.
In the meeting, he highlighted the main investment opportunities in the tourism sector, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to providing comprehensive services and facilities to enable investors to join the promising sector.

Al-Khateeb noted that the tourism ecosystem supports numerous projects in Al-Ahsa, including 17 unique tourism initiatives valued at over SAR3.5 billion, providing more than 1,800 hotel rooms.

The projects aim to boost the tourism sector, leveraging Al-Ahsa's exceptional features that qualify it to become a major tourist destination in the Kingdom and the region, the minister said.

During his tour, he made a stop at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Al-Ahsa, a beneficiary of the Tourism Development Fund. Covering an area of over 10,000 square meters and costing more than SAR200 million, the hotel boasts more than 180 rooms.

It stands as a model tourist destination that combines international luxury with local authenticity, reflecting the unique charm of Al-Ahsa.