Saudi Arabia Partners with World Bank to Ensure No Nation Left Behind on AI

Saudi Arabia and the World Bank announce a long-term partnership to accelerate the use of AI in developing nations. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia and the World Bank announce a long-term partnership to accelerate the use of AI in developing nations. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Partners with World Bank to Ensure No Nation Left Behind on AI

Saudi Arabia and the World Bank announce a long-term partnership to accelerate the use of AI in developing nations. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia and the World Bank announce a long-term partnership to accelerate the use of AI in developing nations. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and the World Bank announced on Wednesday a long-term partnership to accelerate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in developing nations in support of economic and development goals.

Director of the National Information Center (NIC) Esam bin Abdullah Alwagait said: "Through this partnership with the World Bank, Saudi Arabia aims to help all countries of the world to unlock the value of Artificial Intelligence and to share the benefits of data-driven decision-making to support economic and social growth.

“Data and AI are at the heart of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and through the development of our own AI agenda and policies, we have developed skills and resources that we want to share to ensure that all nations are equally prepared to harness the value of AI.”

World Bank Vice President of Infrastructure Makhtar Diop stated: "This initiative aims to help governments harness AI technologies while adopting the appropriate safeguards for ensuring privacy and protection as well as inclusivity and unbiased algorithms."

Saudi Arabia unveiled on Wednesday its new National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI) which will make the Kingdom a global leader in AI by 2030.

The National Strategy, which will be led by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), was officially launched at the inaugural Global AI Summit in Riyadh. The two-day summit was launched under the auspices of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.



Italy, Albania, UAE Sign Deal for Energy Subsea Interconnection

People visit the World Future Energy Summit 2025 (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 14 January 2025.  EPA/ALI HAIDER
People visit the World Future Energy Summit 2025 (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 14 January 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER
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Italy, Albania, UAE Sign Deal for Energy Subsea Interconnection

People visit the World Future Energy Summit 2025 (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 14 January 2025.  EPA/ALI HAIDER
People visit the World Future Energy Summit 2025 (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 14 January 2025. EPA/ALI HAIDER

Italy, Albania and the United Arab Emirates signed on Wednesday a deal worth at least 1 billion euros ($1 billion) to build a subsea interconnection for renewable energy across the Adriatic Sea.

"We strongly believe in this project involving our three governments, as well as our private sector and grid operators," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said as she announced the deal at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

The three-way partnership, which aims to produce green power in Albania and export it to Italy through underwater cables, will involve Italian grid operator Terna and UAE's National Energy Company (Taqa), Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said.

The Albanian premier added that the infrastructure would connect the Albanian port of Vlore to the southern Italian region of Puglia, the narrowest point between the two countries, and was expected to be operational within a maximum of three years.