Drones, Technology Localization Top ‘AI’ Discussions in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Drones, Technology Localization Top ‘AI’ Discussions in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Experts at the International Exhibition and Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing, held in Riyadh, discussed enhancing AI for the drone sector in smart cities and the possibility of localizing the technology in the Kingdom.

They also tackled mapping cloud digital transformation and the role of AI in the customer services industry, with the participation of several local, regional, and global companies.

Saudi Arabia aims to compete in global markets and against developed countries by enhancing sustainability, creating jobs, investing in entrepreneurship, attracting global investments in various fields, and incubating SMEs and large companies to support the Saudi economy, Prince Fahd bin Abdullah Al Saud, advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The Kingdom seeks to fully digitize vital sectors and adopt technological transformation through plans based on providing technical solutions to improve performance, reduce costs and make all sectors in the Kingdom more efficient and smart,” Wafi bin Hammad Albalawi, vice president of the Saudi Electronic University, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Albalawi pointed to a recent study conducted by the US-based company Accenture, which said that investment in artificial intelligence will increase the Saudi gross domestic product by 12.5 % and will inject more than $215 billion into the Saudi economy by 2035.

This can encourage the adoption of technology and innovation within Saudi SMEs, especially since the Kingdom enjoys the largest share in the digital industries market.

Saudi Arabia has continuously adopted digital transformation to serve its national transformation plan, dubbed Kingdom Vision 2030.

Maher Uday, a specialist in digital interaction systems at Avaya, which specializes in the customer services industry, stressed the acceleration of process automation in the field of customer service in general.

Uday predicted that, during the next two years, the automation of e-marketing will boom in various customer service fields.

This will affect a number of activities such as booking flights, ordering food from restaurants, booking a taxi, and purchasing other online products using AI.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. The event features leaders and pioneers in the technology sectors, both in local, global government, and private institutions.

This conference is one of the most specialized and widely spread events globally and seeks to foster innovation and increase competitiveness.

It offers a platform for collaboration between AI leaders and investors to create a better future. The conference offers discussion panels and workshops that will address relevant topics such as artificial intelligence, data science, the internet, cybersecurity, big data, and more.

Saudi Arabia seeks to digitize many vital sectors and adopt technological transformation through steps based on digital solutions, to improve performance, reduce costs and raise efficiency, as well as create an attractive environment for investors and entrepreneurs.



IMF Sees 'Some Progress' on Lebanon Reforms, But Says External Support Needed

People enjoy the sunset at Ramlet Al Bayda seaside in Beirut, Lebanon, 27 May 2025.  EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
People enjoy the sunset at Ramlet Al Bayda seaside in Beirut, Lebanon, 27 May 2025. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
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IMF Sees 'Some Progress' on Lebanon Reforms, But Says External Support Needed

People enjoy the sunset at Ramlet Al Bayda seaside in Beirut, Lebanon, 27 May 2025.  EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
People enjoy the sunset at Ramlet Al Bayda seaside in Beirut, Lebanon, 27 May 2025. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH

Lebanon has made progress on reforms needed to revive its economy but still has key steps to take and will need external funding on concessional terms, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday after a week of meetings in Beirut.

Lebanon's economy went into a tailspin in late 2019, prompted by decades of profligate spending by the country's ruling elite.

Reforms required to access IMF funding were repeatedly derailed by political and private interests, according to Reuters.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both of whom took office in early 2025, pledged to prioritize reforms and secure an IMF financing agreement - but the country now faces additional needs with the widespread destruction and displacement caused by Israel's military campaign last year.

“The authorities have made some progress recently, including the amendment of the Bank Secrecy Law and submission of a new bank resolution law to Parliament,” the IMF's Lebanon mission chief Ramirez Rigo said in a written statement.

Rigo added that his mission held “productive discussions” with Lebanese officials, including on restoring the viability of the banking sector, fiscal and debt sustainability and enhancing anti-money laundering and terrorism financing measures.

He said Lebanon's medium-term fiscal framework should support the restructuring of Eurobond debts, which Lebanon defaulted on in 2020, leading to a sovereign default on its $31 billion of outstanding international bonds.

“Given Lebanon's substantial reconstruction needs, limited fiscal space and lack of capacity to borrow, the country will require significant support from external partners on highly concessional terms,” the IMF statement said.

The World Bank estimated Lebanon's recovery and reconstruction needs following Israel's military campaign at $11 billion. But the US has said it opposes any reconstruction funds to Lebanon until Hezbollah - the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group that fought Israel last year - is disarmed.