Moderna COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia announced 14 deaths from COVID-19 and 1,133 new infections on Friday. (File/SPA)
Short Url
Updated 10 July 2021
Follow

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Saudi Arabia

  • The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in the Kingdom has increased to 479,709
  • A total of 7,947 people have succumbed to the virus in the Kingdom so far

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) on Friday approved Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine for use in the Kingdom.

Moderna’s is the fourth shot that has been authorized for use in the Kingdom following earlier approvals for the AstraZeneca, Pfizer-​BioNTech and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines. 

SFDA said that health authorities will begin import procedures in accordance with the relevant standards and requirements, and that the authority will analyze samples from each incoming shipment of the vaccine before using it to ensure its quality.

The decision to approve registration and use of Moderna's vaccine was made based on the data provided by the company, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. 

The SFDA held several meetings to study the submitted data with local and international experts and specialists. A meeting with Moderna and its representative was also held to answer enquiries made by the authority. 

Over 19.2 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine have been administered in the Kingdom to date.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom announced 14 deaths from COVID-19 and 1,133 new infections.
Of the new cases, 328 were recorded in Riyadh, 245 in Makkah, 206 in the Eastern Province, 108 in Asir, 76 in Jazan, 63 in Madinah, 24 in Najran, 18 in Tabuk, 18 in Al-Baha, 15 in Hail, five in Al-Jouf, and one in the Northern Borders region.
The total number of recoveries in the Kingdom increased to 479,709 after 1,582 more patients recovered from the virus.
A total of 7,947 people have succumbed to the virus in the Kingdom so far.


SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

Updated 20 February 2026
Follow

SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

RIYADH: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi says that Saudi Arabia is moving steadily to establish artificial intelligence as a trusted national capability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, Al-Ghamdi said the goal is to use AI to help develop government services, enhance competitiveness, build human capacity and improve quality of life through a comprehensive strategy based on three main pillars that unlock the potential of this technology and achieve sustainable developmental impact.

“The first pillar focuses on building human capacity and enhancing readiness to engage with AI technologies,” he said.

The second pillar is building an integrated national AI ecosystem that drives expansion and innovation by developing advanced digital infrastructure that enables various sectors to adopt AI applications efficiently, consistently and with effective governance, Al-Ghamdi said.

The third pillar, he said, is governance that ensures responsible and measurable AI through a national framework aligned with international standards.

This came during Al-Ghamdi’s speech at a high-level ministerial session held on Thursday on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

He is heading the Saudi delegation, and the session saw broad participation from heads of state, decision-makers and technology leaders from around the world.

Al-Ghamdi also had a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening, discussed AI cooperation and expressed his gratitude for hosting the summit and for the hospitality extended to the participants.