In a move reflecting the accelerating pace of digital transformation in Saudi Arabia, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, held a series of high-level strategic meetings with leading global technology figures on the sidelines of the Kingdom's delegation's participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos. These initiatives aim to solidify the Kingdom's position as a pivotal hub for technology and innovation in the region.
Strengthening digital infrastructure and Vision 2030
These meetings come within the framework of ongoing efforts to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which positions the digital economy as a cornerstone of economic diversification. Through these partnerships, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology seeks to accelerate the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, specifically generative artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data analytics. These technologies are key drivers for enhancing operational efficiency in both the public and private sectors, thereby strengthening the Kingdom's competitiveness in international digital performance indicators.
Strategic partnerships with tech giants
Engineer Al-Sawah’s tour included an important meeting with Bill McDermott, Chairman and CEO of ServiceNow , where the discussion focused on mechanisms for employing automation and corporate artificial intelligence to raise the efficiency of digital services, which positively impacts the beneficiaries’ experience and increases national productivity.
In a parallel effort to develop the telecommunications infrastructure, the Minister met with Justin Hotard, CEO of Nokia . The meeting addressed opportunities for developing advanced telecommunications networks (such as 5G and beyond), which are the backbone for enabling smart applications and the Internet of Things, ensuring a reliable and resilient digital infrastructure capable of accommodating the increasing growth in data consumption.
Innovation and Technology Policies
The meetings were not limited to technical aspects but extended to include organizational and innovative dimensions. Al-Swaha met with Apple , Nick Aman, to discuss ways to strengthen the partnership in developing technology policies that stimulate innovation, as well as supporting the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Kingdom to keep pace with the demands of the smart era.
Data economy and international cooperation
To further develop the digital economy ecosystem, Al-Suwaiha met with Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of Snowflake , to discuss the latest cloud data solutions and their pivotal role in enabling data-driven decision-making. He also met with Anne Neuberger, a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, to explore frameworks for international collaboration in artificial intelligence, reflecting the Kingdom's interest not only in importing technology but also in participating in shaping its future and governance globally.
These intensive moves in Davos confirm the Kingdom’s determination to lead the regional digital landscape, by building strong bridges of cooperation with major global companies and research institutions, thus ensuring a prosperous future based on innovation and knowledge.
