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Riyadh: A Global Destination for AI Events

During the announcement of Artathon winners at the AI Global Summit (SPA)
During the announcement of Artathon winners at the AI Global Summit (SPA)
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Riyadh: A Global Destination for AI Events

During the announcement of Artathon winners at the AI Global Summit (SPA)
During the announcement of Artathon winners at the AI Global Summit (SPA)

The first global artificial intelligence (AI) summit, held under the patronage of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, concluded Thursday, with the aim of creating a global destination for AI activities in Riyadh.

The summit called for an international framework to support international cooperation in the field of data technology and artificial intelligence.

The two-day summit held under the slogan: "AI for the Good of Humanity,” was organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

It included 30 sessions, with nearly 60 speakers, including ministers, leaders of global entities, academics, investors, and entrepreneurs from 20 countries.

President of SDAIA, Abdullah al-Ghamdi, delivered a speech on behalf of Prince Mohammed, in which he described 2020 as an exceptional year to test the potential of AI at a time when a new global status is being formed, redefining lifestyles, business, and learning.

The summit aimed to adopt Riyadh as a global destination for AI activities, where the summit will be held annually to discuss the reality, future, and issues of AI and shed light on the latest research and technologies in this field.

The summit discussed the role of AI in life and the future, and means of transition to the new era characterized by rapid change.


The AI Summit is held within the framework of the Kingdom’s endeavor to achieve its aspirations for global leadership through data and AI-based economy.

It also asserts the importance of international cooperation in order to use AI for the good of humanity, highlighting SDAIA's role in the strategic leadership of the alternative economy, in cooperation with many relevant authorities to achieve Vision 2030.

On the first day of the summit, Saudi Arabia launched the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI) with a vision to make the best of data and AI a tangible reality.

The strategy aims to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of data and AI at the national and global levels.

Saudi Arabia signed three memorandums of understanding (MoU) with IBM, Alibaba, and Huawei at a summit in the kingdom.

The Kingdom also signed an MoU with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to develop a global framework that supports international cooperation in the AI field.

Saudi Arabia, represented by SDAIA, worked with the World Bank on a joint initiative, as part of the Kingdom's endeavor to enhance, develop, and accelerate AI technologies and digital economy in developing countries.

In addition, it hosted an advisory session in cooperation with the UN, to establish a body on global cooperation to address issues around integration, coordination, and building capabilities.

At the end of the summit, winners of the NEOM and Artathon challenges were announced and received prizes worth over $266,000. The awards were delivered by Minister of Education, Hamad bin Mohammed Al al-Sheikh, and NEOM CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr.

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Urgent Financial Tasks Await Lebanon’s Emerging Government

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
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Urgent Financial Tasks Await Lebanon’s Emerging Government

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)

A broad internal consensus, encompassing both political and economic dimensions, is taking shape to adopt the principles outlined in the presidential inauguration address as the foundation of the new government’s program and ministerial statement. This approach aims to sustain Lebanon’s immediate and strong positive momentum, which is reinforced by widespread support on both Arab and international levels.

Economic bodies and professional unions representing business sectors have openly expressed their relief and full support for the strategic directions set by President Joseph Aoun following his election. However, they have made it clear that maintaining this positive momentum depends on the formation of a reform-oriented rescue government, composed of competent, experienced, and honest ministers. This government must also collaborate constructively with the president.

According to a senior financial official, the rescue mission will be challenging due to years of governmental inaction and constitutional voids, which led to a deterioration in public sector operations and the accumulation of economic, financial, and monetary crises over the past five years. These challenges were further compounded by a devastating war, which inflicted severe human and financial losses estimated at approximately $10 billion, thereby worsening the country’s financial gap, now estimated at $72 billion.

Economic and banking circles are looking to the new government to swiftly capitalize on extensive international support by restoring trust and reestablishing financial channels between Lebanon and its regional and international partners. Key to this effort are explicit and transparent commitments to combating illegal economic activities, corruption, smuggling, money laundering, and drug trafficking. In parallel, the government must prioritize strengthening judicial independence and implementing strict controls over land, sea, and air borders.

The national consensus evident in the presidential election, according to Mohammad Choucair, head of Lebanon’s economic associations, paves the way for constructive collaboration among political factions. This collaboration is crucial for addressing challenges, rebuilding the state, and benefiting from renewed international and Arab—particularly Gulf and Saudi—interest in Lebanon. Choucair emphasized the importance of normalizing relations with Gulf nations, supporting Lebanon’s recovery, and providing resources for reconstruction efforts.

One of the urgent tasks for the new government, according to the financial official, is revisiting the draft 2024 state budget, which was previously submitted to parliament. Adjustments are necessary to address fundamental discrepancies in expenditure and revenue projections, taking into account significant changes brought about by the Israeli war.

Ibrahim Kanaan, chairman of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, described the budget as “unrealistic, if not entirely fictitious,” particularly in its revenue estimates. He pointed out that revenue increases were based on income and capital taxes, internal duties, and trade-related fees, all of which have been severely impacted by the war.

Reassuring depositors, both domestic and expatriate, who have suffered massive losses over recent years, is another pressing issue. These losses were exacerbated by the inability of successive governments to implement a comprehensive rescue plan addressing the $72 billion financial gap fairly. The situation was worsened by mismanagement in the electricity sector and the squandering of over $20 billion in central bank reserves following the onset of the financial crisis.

In response to Aoun’s commitment to a fair resolution for depositors, the Association of Banks in Lebanon welcomed his emphasis on safeguarding deposits. It also expressed its readiness to collaborate with the central bank and the government to protect depositors’ rights, citing a recent State Council ruling that prohibits any financial recovery plans from including measures that would erode depositors’ funds.

In its final session, the caretaker government addressed long-standing creditor issues by unanimously agreeing to suspend Lebanon’s right to invoke statutes of limitations on claims by foreign bondholders under New York law. This suspension, effective until March 9, 2028, aims to facilitate future negotiations.

With this decision, the caretaker government tacitly acknowledged Lebanon’s pending debt obligations, including over $10 billion in suspended interest payments on Eurobonds and approximately $30 billion in principal debt. The resolution now awaits direct negotiations under the new administration, which faces the challenge of resolving a nearly five-year-old crisis triggered by the previous government’s uncoordinated decision to halt payments on all Eurobond obligations through 2037.

Caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil emphasized that despite the difficult circumstances, “Lebanon remains committed to reaching a fair and consensual resolution regarding the restructuring of Eurobond debt.”