Saudi artificial intelligence summit attracts global talents

The students who attended the Global AI Summit in Riyadh, represented six countries and were part of the knowledge exchange initiative launched by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.
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Updated 25 September 2022
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Saudi artificial intelligence summit attracts global talents

A group of artificial intelligence graduate students from several prestigious international universities concluded their participation in the second edition of the Global AI Summit, which concluded last week in Riyadh. The students also visited Masmak Palace in the center of Riyadh to be briefed on the history of the capital.

The students represented six countries, joined by several Saudi scholarship students in the same specialization. Their participation came within the knowledge exchange initiative launched by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, which hosted 19 male and female students of different nationalities including the US, the UK, India, Jordan, Algeria, South Korea and Nigeria. These students study at international universities and institutes, including the Sorbonne University in Paris, Oxford University, University College London, Durham University, Nottingham University, Sussex University in the UK, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, and King’s College London.

Through this initiative, SDAIA aimed to attract global capabilities in AI and enhance the role of distinguished youths, based on the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its aspirations to enable them to lead the future of AI in the Kingdom, the region and the world.

SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi said that the knowledge exchange initiative was designed to achieve several benefits, including engaging visiting students in knowledge exchange dialogues to explore opportunities for future cooperation, and introducing them to the Kingdom’s efforts in pioneering data and AI in a journey that Saudi students will lead with their peers from international universities.

He said that the SDAIA aims through the initiative to build qualitative partnerships that support its efforts in data and AI and help attract global capabilities to the Kingdom. Al-Ghamdi added that the initiative contributes to activating the distinguished role of Saudi youth and engaging them in a real dialogue that develops their leadership spirit and shows their knowledge capabilities. “This will enhance the Kingdom’s position in data and AI as the initiative provides the opportunity to exchange knowledge and explore opportunities for future cooperation through a constructive dialogue that brings together Saudi youth and foreign graduate students,” he said.

The second edition of the Global AI Summit was held under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deputy prime minister and chairman of the SDAIA.

The event took place at the King Abdulaziz Conference Center in Riyadh from Sept. 13-15. The three-day summit featured 200 speakers who lead data and AI policy reform in 70 countries, with the participation of more than 3,000 attendees from across the world.


Zayed National Museum Opens in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District

Updated 06 December 2025
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Zayed National Museum Opens in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District

Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates and centerpiece of Saadiyat Cultural District, opened to the public Saturday.

The museum offers visitors a journey through the history of the UAE, from the earliest evidence of human habitation to the civilizations that shaped its culture and identity. It serves as a cultural bridge connecting the seven emirates, emphasizing their shared history and heritage.

The museum highlights the story of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, presenting his life as a lens through which to explore the values and aspirations that underpin the nation.

Zayed National Museum features more than 1,500 objects across six permanent galleries, combining archaeological artifacts, historic objects, audiovisual and sensory experiences, contemporary installations and reconstructions. The visitor journey begins at the 600-meter outdoor Al Masar Garden and continues through galleries dedicated to Sheikh Zayed’s life, the UAE’s natural landscapes and the history of human habitation, with archaeological discoveries spanning 300,000 years.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “As the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, Zayed National Museum tells the unfolding story of the land and its people. It demonstrates the unifying power of our history and our culture, providing a space where citizens, residents and visitors can see themselves reflected in the story of our people and our land. Bridging past, present and future, it will help shape how we understand the UAE’s evolving cultural narrative.”
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum’s opening marks a new chapter in the nation’s cultural legacy. It follows a landmark year that saw the openings of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi in Saadiyat Cultural District, as well as the reopening of Al Ain Museum.

Monthlong Opening Program
To mark the milestone, Zayed National Museum is hosting a program of performances, workshops and cultural activities through Dec. 31 under the theme “Deep Roots and Everlasting Legacy.”

The program includes traditional Razfa and Naashat dances; an immersive Gahwa experience designed with Bait Al Gahwa, accompanied by poetry, Taghrooda music, Nahma seafaring chants and the Nadba mountain call; poetry performances; and musical recitals. Hands-on workshops will explore traditional crafts and arts inspired by the museum’s collections. Tours and workshops require advance booking.

The museum’s retail shop, Al Nagwa Boutique, offers a curated selection of gifts and souvenirs. Dining options include Erth Restaurant, Al Ghaf Cafe and the Garden Cafes.
Tickets and annual memberships are available at www.zayednationalmuseum.ae.