Saudi Arabian Airlines named partner & official carrier of Global AI Summit

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Updated 14 September 2022
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Saudi Arabian Airlines named partner & official carrier of Global AI Summit

Saudi Arabian Airlines, the Kingdom’s national flag carrier, announced its strategic partnership as the official carrier of the Global AI Summit. The event is being held under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deputy prime minister and chairman of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

This is the second edition of the Global AI Summit, which is taking place at the King Abdulaziz Conference Center in Riyadh from Sept. 13-15. The three-day summit features 200 speakers who lead data and artificial intelligence policy reform in 70 countries and more than 3,000 visitors from across the world are in attendance.

The summit seeks to serve as a communal meeting place for investors, innovators and political thought leaders worldwide who are all active in the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence by identifying business investment opportunities, exploring use case possibilities and discussing compliance policies. The Global AI Summit aims to identify solutions to make AI technologies more accessible across industries.

Saudia is set to sign a three-way memorandum of understanding with SDAIA and the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence to explore means to deploy AI-powered solutions that will enhance the airline’s operations. Included within these agreements are plans to develop AI applications, improve customer experiences using the latest emerging technologies, and utilize technology to process spoken languages across Saudia’s customer care applications and other digital channels.

Using the code AI20, visitors to the summit can take advantage of a special promotional deal offered by Saudia Holidays and receive 20 percent off on the travel package of their choice.
With its sponsorship of the summit, Saudia underlines its commitment and role as the “wings” of Vision 2030, where it seeks to achieve the objectives of the vision’s strategic framework, which include global leadership among data-driven, AI-powered economies.

In alignment with this commitment, the national flag carrier continues to identify ways to adopt cutting-edge AI solutions that offer high-quality services to Saudia’s guests and employees.

The first Global AI Summit was held virtually under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2020 with a record-breaking 5 million views throughout the event. During the landmark summit, the National Strategy for Data and AI, established to elevate the Kingdom as a global leader in the fields of AI and data, was announced.


Al-Saedan launches $400m investment platform for real estate, digital infrastructure

Updated 27 January 2026
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Al-Saedan launches $400m investment platform for real estate, digital infrastructure

Al-Saedan Real Estate Company of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Serpentine Lake Capital of the UK and SGI Real Estate of Canada, have announced the establishment of a joint development and investment platform under the name SL Property. The platform will develop commercial, residential, and hospitality projects, alongside infrastructure and data center projects, across the Kingdom. It reflects the growing international interest in Saudi Arabia’s real estate and digital infrastructure markets and supports the development of high-quality, long-term assets within the Kingdom.

The agreement signing ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing and Chairman of the Real Estate General Authority Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, as part of the Future of Real Estate Forum, in which Al-Saedan Real Estate participated as a strategic sponsor. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim bin Saedan, chairman of the board of Al-Saedan Real Estate; Ahmed bin Ibrahim bin Saedan, vice chairman of the board of Al-Saedan Real Estate; Ben Mikola, representative of Serpentine Lake Capital and SL Property; and Hassan Al-Shawwa, representative of SGI Canada.

The attendance reflects the strategic importance of the initiative and the continued support of the authority in facilitating the attraction of high-quality international investments into the Kingdom’s real estate and digital infrastructure sectors.

This development follows the issuance of the Regulation on Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis in Saudi Arabia, which came into effect in January. The updated regulatory framework is expected to expand access to international investment, facilitate foreign investor participation in strategic sectors, and increase the depth of institutional capital flowing into the real estate, infrastructure, and data center sectors in the Kingdom.

The platform is targeting initial joint investments of SR1.5 billion ($400 million) in partnership with Al-SaedanReal Estate, representing the first phase of a broader, multi-stage investment program. In its initial phase, SL Property — Al-Saedan intends to invest in six to eight projects across real estate, infrastructure, and data centers, with additional opportunities anticipated as the platform’s activities expand in the future.

The initial projects will be concentrated in Riyadh and Jeddah, and will include mixed-use developments, commercial assets, residential projects, and infrastructure related to data centers. These projects are designed to be scalable, sustainable, and aligned with national development priorities, including housing expansion, enhancement of urban quality of life, hospitality sector growth, and strengthening the Kingdom’s digital services capabilities.

Al-Saedan Real Estate is one of the oldest private real estate development companies in Saudi Arabia, with more than 80 years of operational experience and a strong track record that includes the development of seven major integrated urban communities, in addition to numerous commercial, hospitality, and associated infrastructure projects.

The SL Property platform will serve as a dedicated investment vehicle for this initiative, with Serpentine Lake Capital contributing its asset management expertise, and SGI Real Estate providing its specialized real estate sector experience. The platform’s structure is intended to combine local development capabilities with disciplined international investment practices and robust governance standards.

This initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s economic diversification objectives and reflects growing confidence in the updated regulatory framework governing the real estate and digital infrastructure sectors. As the platform evolves, it is expected to provide both local and international investors with access to high-quality investment opportunities across the real estate and data center sectors throughout the Kingdom.

Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim said: “At Al-Saedan, we are pleased to be among the first beneficiaries of the promising new foreign investment system. Following our success in raising several local investment funds, we look forward to expanding our expertise and partnerships at a global level.”

Mikola added: “We are pleased to partner with Al-Saedan, whose strong track record provides a solid foundation for this collaboration. As the platform develops, we expect to explore opportunities to expand into real estate and infrastructure projects within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. The Kingdom represents a fast-growing market driven by clear structural factors, and we look forward to developing high-potential opportunities through a disciplined and focused approach.”