Riyadh Hosts Largest Global AI Summit

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) will organize the Global AI Summit under the theme: AI for the Good of Humanity, from October 21-22. (Photo: AFP)
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) will organize the Global AI Summit under the theme: AI for the Good of Humanity, from October 21-22. (Photo: AFP)
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Riyadh Hosts Largest Global AI Summit

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) will organize the Global AI Summit under the theme: AI for the Good of Humanity, from October 21-22. (Photo: AFP)
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) will organize the Global AI Summit under the theme: AI for the Good of Humanity, from October 21-22. (Photo: AFP)

Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch its National Data and Industrial Intelligence Strategy, which was recently approved by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, in line with the Kingdom’s aspiration for global leadership through data-based economy and industrial intelligence.

This comes as Riyadh hosts on Oct. 21-22 the Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence, which is organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), under the title, “AI for the Good of Humanity”, under the auspices of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister.

The global summit will be attended by an elite of AI experts, including high-level government officials, CEOs, investors, innovators, and many thought leaders and entrepreneurs.

Among the participants will be many distinguished speakers and global experts from different countries, who will cover a range of topics divided into four sectors: Shaping the New Normal, AI and Governments, Governing AI and The Future of AI.

During the summit, officials will announce the launch of a national strategy for data and AI in Saudi Arabia, an initiative that was recently adopted by King Salman and forms part of the Kingdom’s plans for global leadership through a data-driven economy and AI.

Dr. Abdullah Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, Chairman of the Data and Industrial Intelligence Authority, said that the summit would be held as an accompanying event to Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20 summit.

He stressed that the Kingdom has made a great leap in the field of AI and was the first country to create a platform that collects data and AI under one umbrella.

For his part, Dr. Esam Al-Wagait, the director of the National Information Center, said that Saudi Arabia was witnessing remarkable progress in data and industrial intelligence. He noted that the country has seen its ranking advance in a number of relevant global indicators, jumping 40 ranks in the governments’ readiness for AI - an indicator issued by the Oxford Insight – to reach the 38th position.

The summit will shed light on the role of the Data and Industrial Intelligence Authority in the strategic leadership of the alternative economy, in cooperation with many relevant authorities, to contribute to achieving the goals of Vision 2030.



Saudi Industry Ministry: Record 144% Surge in New Mining Exploitation Licenses in H1 2025 

Miners works in the Al Amar gold mine, 200km (124 miles) southwest of Riyadh, May 28, 2008. (Reuters)
Miners works in the Al Amar gold mine, 200km (124 miles) southwest of Riyadh, May 28, 2008. (Reuters)
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Saudi Industry Ministry: Record 144% Surge in New Mining Exploitation Licenses in H1 2025 

Miners works in the Al Amar gold mine, 200km (124 miles) southwest of Riyadh, May 28, 2008. (Reuters)
Miners works in the Al Amar gold mine, 200km (124 miles) southwest of Riyadh, May 28, 2008. (Reuters)

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Thursday a significant rise in new mining exploitation licenses during the first half of 2025, marking a 144% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

A total of 22 licenses were issued - up from just nine in the previous year - reflecting growing investor interest and the ministry's efforts to create a more attractive and competitive mining environment.

The jump is also aligned with the rapid development of the Saudi mining sector, which is undergoing as part of the country's broader push for economic diversification.

According to the ministry's spokesperson, Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, 23 companies were granted exploitation licenses during this period, 16 of them receiving a mining license for the very first time. Combined, these projects represent investments exceeding SAR134 million and cover an area of 47 square kilometers.

Annual production capacity from the newly licensed operations is estimated at 7.86 million tons of various mineral resources, including salt, clay, silica sand, low-grade iron ore, feldspar, and gypsum.

Currently, the Kingdom holds a total of 239 active mining exploitation and small-mine licenses. Of these, 32 fall under Category A, covering high-value minerals such as gold, copper, phosphate, and bauxite, while the remaining 207 are Category B licenses for a range of other minerals, including silica sand, gypsum, limestone, salt, and clay.

The ministry underlined its commitment to advancing the mining sector as a central pillar of Saudi Vision 2030.

With mineral wealth in the Kingdom estimated at over SAR9.4 trillion, the sector is being positioned as the third key industrial pillar, supporting national efforts to diversify sources of income and drive sustainable economic growth.