Saudi Arabia Seeks to Include AI Center under UNESCO

 The Global AI Summit was held in Riyadh in September 2022. (Twitter)
 The Global AI Summit was held in Riyadh in September 2022. (Twitter)
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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Include AI Center under UNESCO

 The Global AI Summit was held in Riyadh in September 2022. (Twitter)
 The Global AI Summit was held in Riyadh in September 2022. (Twitter)

The Saudi government seeks to complete discussions with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on granting the International Center for AI Research and Ethics the status of Category 2 center, which operates under the auspices of UNESCO.

The Saudi cabinet issued a decision last week to establish the International Center for AI Research and Ethics, to be based in the city of Riyadh and to enjoy legal personality and financial and administrative independence, within the framework of a Saudi endeavor to promote the uses of artificial intelligence and digital solutions.

According to information available to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Saudi government has asked the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA) to complete the discussions with UNESCO and prepare the necessary documents for the regular procedures.

The center seeks to promote sound practices in adopting AI technologies, as well as to support research, development and initiatives at the national and international levels, and ensure the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

The establishment of the International Center for AI Research and Ethics is also aimed at enhancing Saudi Arabia’s role in the field of artificial intelligence and ensuring the promotion of research efforts and the responsible use of AI applications, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 to transform the Kingdom into a global technical hub for AI and advanced technologies.

During the second edition of the Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence, which was held in Riyadh in September 2022, Saudi Arabia launched the principles of ethics of artificial intelligence, as part of a set of projects and initiatives that contribute to strengthening the country’s global leadership in the industry and achieving the aspirations of Vision 2030.



UAE's Sheikha Bodour Inaugurates 1st Sharjah Literature Festival

The event brings together literary icons from across the UAE, united by stories of human creativity - WAM
The event brings together literary icons from across the UAE, united by stories of human creativity - WAM
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UAE's Sheikha Bodour Inaugurates 1st Sharjah Literature Festival

The event brings together literary icons from across the UAE, united by stories of human creativity - WAM
The event brings together literary icons from across the UAE, united by stories of human creativity - WAM

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority and Honorary President of the Emirates Publishers Association, officially inaugurated the first edition of the Sharjah Literature Festival.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, under the slogan ‘Emirati Tales Inspire the Future,’ the festival aims to showcase Emirati literary creativity while reinforcing the UAE’s position as a vibrant hub for literature and culture, WAM reported.

With nine core themes encompassing various aspects of literature, culture, and various engaging events, the festival offers a dynamic platform for exchanging visions and ideas among local literary and cultural leaders. It also provides a key opportunity to support Emirati publishers and further strengthen the UAE’s publishing sector.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi expressed pride in launching this new cultural event in Sharjah, the incubator of culture, literature and creativity.

She said: ‘The Sharjah Literature Festival is a celebration of our shared stories and a platform to nurture Emirati creativity. By connecting the past with the present, this festival elevates the transformative power of literature to inspire progress and cultural dialogue. These stories will resonate not only within the UAE but also across the world, building bridges of understanding and imagination.’