Saudi King Directs KSrelief to Send Urgent Aid to Sudan Flood Victimshttps://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3830786/saudi-king-directs-ksrelief-send-urgent-aid-sudan-flood-victims
Saudi King Directs KSrelief to Send Urgent Aid to Sudan Flood Victims
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. SPA
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, directed King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) to send an urgent airlift that includes food and shelter aid to help those affected by the torrential rains and floods in Sudan.
In a statement issued Monday, Advisor at the Royal Court and KSrelief's General Supervisor Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah said that this generous directive is an extension of the continuous support provided by the government of King Salman and the Crown Prince to stand with all friendly countries.
He added that this generous directive also reflects the strong fraternal bond between the leadership and people of the Kingdom and the Sudanese people.
Saudi Arabia Marks its National Day with a Digital Economy Nearing One-Sixth of GDPhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5321515-saudi-arabia-marks-its-national-day-digital-economy-nearing-one-sixth-gdp
Saudi Arabia Marks its National Day with a Digital Economy Nearing One-Sixth of GDP
King Salman chairs the extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders' Summit from Riyadh. SPA
When the country's regions were first unified, distances were measured in days of travel, and the telegraph was one of the state's tools for connecting its far-flung territories. Today, as Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day, information travels in fractions of a second, and citizens can complete tasks on their smartphones that once required a journey, paperwork, and waiting.
Behind this daily reality lies the growing role of the digital economy, which, according to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, contributed nearly 16 percent of GDP in 2025, equivalent to almost one-sixth of the Saudi economy.
This year's National Day celebrations coincide with what Saudi Arabia has designated as the "Year of Artificial Intelligence," combining reflection on the country's unification journey with a focus on future sources of economic strength.
The current transformation builds on a development path led by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, placing technology at the heart of governance efficiency, business growth, human capital development, and the Kingdom's ambition to secure a larger share of the global knowledge economy.
In April 2016, the Saudi Cabinet, chaired by King Salman, approved Saudi Vision 2030, which was designed and overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The vision positioned digital transformation within a broader project aimed at diversifying the economy and improving the efficiency of spending and public services.
Investments in digital infrastructure were accompanied by administrative reforms, regulatory modernization, and greater opportunities for private-sector participation. Over time, these efforts enabled various entities to develop interconnected services and measure the time and effort saved for beneficiaries.
The COVID-19 pandemic put these investments to a real-world test. On March 26, 2020, King Salman chaired the extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders' Summit from Riyadh. At a time when travel restrictions had closed airports and meeting venues around the world, the event presented a remarkable diplomatic scene and demonstrated the capacity of digital infrastructure to sustain work and communication when face-to-face meetings were impossible.
That same year, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman linked the National Data and AI Strategy to the goal of making Saudi Arabia a global leader in the field. Since then, a succession of initiatives, institutions, and companies have been launched, culminating in the Saudi Cabinet's approval last March of the designation of 2026 as the "Year of Artificial Intelligence."
This continuity reflects how broad strategic ambitions have been translated into programs spanning government, investment, and education, all focused on expanding the Kingdom's ability to develop and deploy technology.
Readers can observe this transformation in everyday life: renewing documents through the Absher platform, following judicial procedures through Najiz, and accessing services from multiple government entities through Nafath.
These digital services have fundamentally changed the relationship between beneficiaries and service providers. Many transactions can now be completed outside regular government and business hours, the need to carry documents between offices has decreased, and access to services has become easier for people living far from government centers.
The experience has also extended to healthcare through the Sehhaty platform and to the wide range of documents and services integrated into the Tawakkalna application. Behind every user action on the screen are less visible processes, including the integration of records, identity verification, data protection, and the maintenance of uninterrupted system operations.
This is where digital government generates economic value: it reduces transaction costs for individuals and businesses while creating demand for software development, cybersecurity, operations, and Saudi technical expertise.
In retail, electronic payments have transformed part of the sales process, while the integration of payment systems, delivery services, and digital platforms has fueled the expansion of e-commerce. Small businesses can now market their products to customers beyond their neighborhoods and cities, and manage inventory and payments through digital tools.
These developments help explain how the digital economy reaches sectors such as commerce, transportation, finance, and healthcare, and how its impact extends far beyond companies traditionally classified as technology firms.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology estimates the Kingdom's information and communications technology (ICT) market at approximately $53 billion (SAR 199 billion) in 2025.
The size of the ICT market differs from the digital economy's contribution to GDP, as the latter encompasses digital activities spanning multiple economic sectors. This influence is reflected in the growing adoption of networks, software, and digital services by businesses, enabling them to increase productivity and reach customers more effectively.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, benefit from this transformation by gaining access to tools and technologies that previously required larger investments and specialized expertise.
Institutions Safeguarding Trust and Connecting Services
The expansion of digital activity has necessitated the creation of institutions that regulate and protect it. The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) serves as the national reference body for cybersecurity affairs.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) leads efforts related to data and artificial intelligence, while the Digital Government Authority (DGA) oversees the regulation and advancement of government digital services and their integration.
Through the coordination of these institutions, services are seamlessly connected to identity verification, data management, and cybersecurity, enhancing the ability of government entities to provide reliable user experiences.
This transformation also has a physical dimension. In northern Riyadh, the Digital City district brings together towers and headquarters of government entities and companies, including the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Its urban presence provides a tangible representation of an economy in which countless transactions take place without paper. Behind these digital services are teams at work, neighboring companies, and an ecosystem that supports an industry built on knowledge exchange and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Saudi Companies Building Domestic Production Capabilities
As the market has matured, investments have increasingly focused on developing national capabilities across various stages of the digital industry. A prominent example is the role of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in establishing companies aimed at supporting economic diversification opportunities.
The Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) illustrates this approach through its work in secure technology solutions, cybersecurity, and cloud services. In this context, expertise in protecting and operating digital systems has evolved into a field that generates business opportunities, professional training, and product development.
Another example is HUMAIN, launched in May 2025 and chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The company works to link data centers and cloud-computing infrastructure with AI models and applications. Its initiatives include language models such as Allam, conversational AI applications such as HUMAIN Chat, and partnerships with global technology companies.
Here, the Arabic language itself acquires an economic dimension. The ability to understand Arabic and process its content supports the development of services tailored to the needs of institutions and users while expanding the presence of Arabic knowledge within AI products.
Developing these products requires extensive research into data quality, accuracy of responses, and understanding of local contexts, alongside testing their applications within institutions. This creates opportunities for collaboration among researchers, universities, and the private sector, and for translating specialized knowledge in healthcare, industry, and services into practical applications.
At the same time, investment in the Arabic language offers the possibility of building Saudi expertise capable of serving broader Arab markets.
Behind the Swift Answer... An Entire Industry
Behind the artificial intelligence services that appear effortless on a smartphone screen lies a vast infrastructure of technology and expertise. The answer that appears within seconds depends on processors, networks, storage systems, electricity, and cooling facilities. This is why data centers have emerged as a fundamental pillar of the AI economy.
Saudi Arabia is betting on its ability to attract such investments through the availability of energy, capital, strategic location, and growing domestic demand, while building partnerships that provide access to advanced technologies.
In Riyadh, the foundation stone for SDAIA's Hexagon Data Center was laid earlier this year, with a planned capacity of 480 megawatts. Now under implementation, the project reflects the scale of the Kingdom's ambitions in expanding hosting capabilities for digital systems and computing power. It also illustrates that the development of digital government and artificial intelligence requires substantial physical investments, integrating construction, energy, telecommunications, and specialized operations.
The market is also preparing for expanded local cloud-computing options in the coming months. Microsoft has announced that its Saudi Arabia East Datacenter Region will become available in November, while Amazon Web Services (AWS) has confirmed the launch of its first cloud region in Saudi Arabia in December this year.
These facilities will provide organizations with broader options for hosting data and running applications locally while leveraging platforms and tools used by businesses worldwide.
The connection between these investments and local economic development is evident in the growing collaboration between AWS and HUMAIN, which includes plans to make Allam, the Saudi Arabic-language AI model, available through the Amazon Bedrock platform. This partnership enables local developers to connect with global distribution platforms, increasing the value of locally developed products that address clear customer needs.
The LEAP Conference held in Riyadh. SPA
LEAP Conference: Investments Moving Toward the Market
The fifth edition of the LEAP Conference concluded in Riyadh in early September. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), announced investments approached $15 billion. These announcements vary in scope and timeframe, and their ultimate economic impact will depend on implementation and the successful commercialization of projects and products.
Among the announcements, Al Moammar Information Systems (MIS) unveiled a $1.2 billion investment to expand its data-center capacity to 192 megawatts, one of the major announcements made on the conference's second day.
On the content and creativity front, Adobe expanded its partnership with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and HUMAIN to support AI-powered creativity. These initiatives demonstrate the breadth of opportunities across the digital economy, from building infrastructure to developing tools used by designers, content creators, and businesses.
The conference's significance also lies in bringing together investors, developers, suppliers, and customers in one place. Startups need pathways to market, manufacturers need partners and buyers, and computing projects require real-world applications to utilize their capabilities.
When these relationships evolve into contracts and ongoing business activities, the conference's impact extends well beyond the days of the event, contributing to business growth and the localization of expertise.
People at the Heart of the Economy
As important as data centers and technology projects are, people remain the decisive factor in their success. The digital economy depends on researchers who develop models, engineers who operate systems, specialists who protect data, educators who prepare students, and entrepreneurs who transform ideas into services.
From this perspective, training programs, educational initiatives, and university partnerships are closely linked to technology investment. The participation of young men and women in these fields forms an essential part of the expected developmental return.
This impact also extends to existing professions. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, and shop owners all need skills that enable them to benefit from new tools and evaluate their outputs effectively.
As digital literacy expands, technology is more likely to be adopted in productive everyday use. It also creates greater opportunities for Arabic-language content, research and development, and Saudi companies that offer solutions rooted in local market needs while remaining scalable to international markets.
Toward the 100th National Day
When Saudi Arabia celebrates its 100th National Day in 2030, it will be possible to assess the results of this phase through the quality of the products it develops, the jobs it creates, the knowledge it localizes, and the impact these achievements have on people's lives and business competitiveness.
The transformation accelerated under Vision 2030, led by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, opening broader opportunities for the Saudi economy to participate in the development of technology and shape its applications.
From the telegraph that once carried news across the country to advanced Arabic-language AI models that process and distribute knowledge through digital networks, the value of connectivity continues to evolve as a means of bringing people together and facilitating their daily activities.
In the Year of Artificial Intelligence, the Kingdom brings to its National Day the achievements of a transformation that citizens and residents experience through their smartphones, and that is being advanced by engineers in data centers, researchers in laboratories, and young entrepreneurs launching new ventures. From these countless individual contributions, the next chapter of Saudi Arabia's development story is taking shape.
Saudi Foreign Minister Meets US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraqhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5321501-saudi-foreign-minister-meets-us-special-envoy-syria-and-iraq
Saudi Foreign Minister Meets US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met in New York on Tuesday with US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the High-level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and efforts to contain tensions and promote security and peace in the region.
Saudi Arabia Highlights Humanitarian Situation, Seafarers’ Rights in Strait of Hormuzhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5321498-saudi-arabia-highlights-humanitarian-situation-seafarers%E2%80%99-rights-strait-hormuz
Saudi Arabia Highlights Humanitarian Situation, Seafarers’ Rights in Strait of Hormuz
Over 20,000 seafarers are stranded on approximately 2,000 ships in the Gulf due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz (WANA - Reuters)
Saudi Arabia has stressed the need to protect seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid severe humanitarian conditions and risks to their fundamental rights, the Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday.
The statement was delivered by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, on behalf of a group of countries from various regions during the general debate on Item 4 at the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the ambassador expressed deep concern over the ongoing insecurity and difficult living conditions faced by seafarers. He noted that attacks on civilian vessels have resulted in casualties and injuries among crew members, while many seafarers continue to struggle to access food, drinking water, fuel, medicine, and medical care.
He referred to Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, which recognizes seafarers as a category of workers requiring protection and affirms that they are not responsible for the circumstances in which they find themselves. He stressed the need to protect their lives, health, safety, and dignity in accordance with international law.
The joint statement welcomed efforts by relevant parties to protect seafarers, commending in particular humanitarian measures taken by some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through their port and maritime authorities. These measures include search-and-rescue operations, the provision of essential supplies and medical assistance, administrative flexibility and the facilitation of crew changes.
Concluding the statement on behalf of the group, Saudi Arabia called on states to protect seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that their safety is closely linked to secure, unimpeded maritime navigation in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
This comes amid ongoing international calls to protect commercial vessels and seafarers and ensure safe navigation in the strait.
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