Saudi Arabia leads AI governance on global stage

1 / 2
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi remarks came during his speech at a session held on Monday as part of the AI Action Summit, hosted in Paris from Feb. 10–11. (SPA)
2 / 2
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi remarks came during his speech at a session held on Monday as part of the AI Action Summit, hosted in Paris from Feb. 10–11. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 10 February 2025
Follow

Saudi Arabia leads AI governance on global stage

  • Abdullah Al-Ghamdi highlights Kingdom’s AI ethics, policies, leadership at Paris summit

Riyadh: President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority Abdullah Al-Ghamdi said that Saudi Arabia has presented a pioneering model for strengthening comprehensive artificial intelligence governance at both regional and global levels.

He noted that this comes amid a growing global need for such governance, as AI continues to shape economies, societies, and global power structures, transcending international borders and impacting industries, governments, labor markets, and security.

His remarks came during his speech at a session held on Monday as part of the AI Action Summit, hosted in Paris from Feb. 10–11, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The session was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with several world leaders, policymakers, and leading AI experts.

Al-Ghamdi emphasized that comprehensive AI governance ensures all stakeholders — including governments, businesses, civil society, and underrepresented communities — have a role in shaping the future of AI.

He noted that by fostering collaboration and transparency, comprehensive governance can mitigate risks, build trust, and establish a framework that ensures AI serves all of humanity rather than benefiting only a specific group, the SPA reported.

Al-Ghamdi added that without diverse perspectives in policymaking, AI risks exacerbating inequalities, reinforcing biases, and favoring only certain groups.

He highlighted that Saudi Arabia has published 65 AI-related policies on the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s AI Policy Observatory, ranking third after the US and the UK.

Moreover, Al-Ghamdi said the Kingdom launched the AI Policy and Incident Observatory for the Middle East in Arabic, reflecting its commitment to regional transparency and data-driven policymaking.

He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s local, regional, and international efforts in data and AI, noting that in 2020, before the latest AI breakthroughs, the Kingdom hosted the first Global AI Summit in Riyadh.

In 2024, the Kingdom organized the third and largest edition of the summit, bringing together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders from over 100 countries to shape the future of AI for the benefit of humanity, he said.

Driven by its commitment to ensuring AI advancements align with Islamic values and ethical principles, Saudi Arabia hosted the largest consultative session of the UN Advisory Body on AI in Riyadh, with representatives from over 53 Islamic countries, Al-Ghamdi said.

These efforts, he added, culminated in the launch of the Riyadh Charter for AI Ethics in the Islamic World last September, reflecting AI’s impact on the lives of 2 billion Muslims worldwide.

Al-Ghamdi said that Saudi Arabia’s role in AI governance extends beyond initiatives to the establishment of the International Center for AI Research and Ethics in Riyadh. As a Category 2 center under UNESCO, it will play a pivotal role in shaping AI policies, enhancing capacity building, and supporting the development of ethical and responsible AI, he noted.

The center has organized several events in collaboration with the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council, bringing together over 100 experts from 28 countries and institutions with the aim of strengthening regional AI governance and establishing clear ethical regulations.

Al-Ghamdi concluded by emphasizing that, as the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds, Saudi Arabia is ready to contribute to shaping the future of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, which will hold its 2025 ministerial council meeting in Slovakia.

He called for unified international efforts to build an innovative, trustworthy, and inclusive AI ecosystem.


Saudi crown prince receives written message from Senegal president

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji meets with the Senegalese ambassador to the Kingdom. (SPA)
Updated 5 sec ago
Follow

Saudi crown prince receives written message from Senegal president

  • Message related to relations between Kingdom and Senegal, and was received by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a written message from the President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The message related to relations between the Kingdom and Senegal, and was received by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji during a meeting with the Senegalese ambassador to the Kingdom Biram Mbagnick Diagne.

The two officials reviewed relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in various fields. Topics of common interest were also discussed.


Diriyah awards $1.4bn contract for Royal Opera House construction

Updated 4 min 31 sec ago
Follow

Diriyah awards $1.4bn contract for Royal Opera House construction

  • Three companies have been awarded the contract to develop the opera house: El-Seif Engineering Contracting, Midmac Contracting Company W.L.L., and the China State Construction Engineering Corp.
  • Agreement signed by Diriyah’s Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo in the presence of Khaled Al-Hazani, executive VP of the lifestyle sector at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, and company representatives

RIYADH: The Diriyah Co. has announced the awarding of a SR5.1 billion ($1.4 billion) contract for the construction of the Royal Diriyah Opera House — one of the most prominent cultural assets of the firm’s development plan under Vision 2030.

Three companies have been awarded the contract to develop the opera house: El-Seif Engineering Contracting, Midmac Contracting Company W.L.L., and the China State Construction Engineering Corp.

This new contract is a major addition to the series of announcements made at the beginning of the second quarter of 2025. It is a part of Diriyah’s ongoing efforts to develop the historic area on the outskirts of Riyadh.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday by Diriyah’s Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo in the presence of Khaled Al-Hazani, executive vice president of the lifestyle sector at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, and representatives of the three companies.

The opera house is set to become a primary center for the performing arts and an iconic architectural landmark that will redefine the Kingdom’s cultural landscape. It will feature a 2,000-seat main hall, making it the largest in the Kingdom.

The hall will serve as the centerpiece of this cultural complex, which will be managed by the RCRC. It will include a theater, studio, rooftop amphitheater, and several multipurpose halls, bringing the total seating capacity to 3,100.

The opera house was designed by the renowned Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta, and features a contemporary Najdi aesthetic, using natural materials sourced from palm trees, and stone.

The design prioritizes sustainability, incorporating water conservation, natural lighting, strategic building orientation, and thermal comfort measures.

Inzerillo said: “The Royal Diriyah Opera House will be a defining asset in Diriyah, which reinforces Diriyah’s growing global role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural future, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 goals.”

He added: “This contract is an important step in our journey toward building a diverse range of assets across the Diriyah development area.

“This architectural gem plays a vital role in bringing people together in one of the world’s greatest gathering destinations, to experience unforgettable performances.”

Al-Hazani said that “this agreement marks a major milestone in building this world-class operatic venue.”

He said he was looking “forward to welcoming the world’s leading operatic and artistic talent in the future, and empowering the Kingdom’s outstanding local talents.”


Saudi Cultural Development Fund announces Expo 2025 participation

Updated 17 April 2025
Follow

Saudi Cultural Development Fund announces Expo 2025 participation

  • CDF’s participation aims to foster cultural partnerships and global investments, reflecting the Kingdom’s continuous commitment to encouraging innovation
  • CDF plans to organize various activities that showcase Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape, focusing on entrepreneurship as a way to drive economic growth

OSAKA: Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Development Fund announced on Thursday that it will participate in Expo 2025 Osaka, highlighting the Kingdom’s rich cultural identity shaped by Vision 2030.

The CDF’s participation aims to foster cultural partnerships and global investments, reflecting the Kingdom’s continuous commitment to encouraging innovation.

It plans to organize various activities that showcase Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape, focusing on entrepreneurship as a way to drive economic growth.

Additionally, the CDF will take part in panel discussions and networking sessions to offer insights on the Kingdom’s culture and host dedicated workshops to educate guests about the Saudi cultural sector’s economic potential. 

“Our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka reflects our commitment to supporting and shaping a vibrant, sustainable cultural sector — one that fuels economic growth and attracts top-tier investment, both locally and globally. We are proud to feature the stories of CDF beneficiaries, who will share their creative journeys with Expo visitors as inspiring examples of Saudi cultural innovation,” said CDF CEO Majed Al-Hugail.

“We continue to reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a leading force in the global cultural scene, ensuring our efforts are fully aligned with the broader cultural ecosystem. Looking ahead, we remain committed to the journey toward becoming a center of financial excellence in the cultural sector and a key contributor to the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030,” he added. 

Expo 2025 Osaka will run until Oct. 13.


Saudi defense minister arrives in Tehran for an official visit

Iranian Major-General Mohammed Bagheri receives Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.
Updated 51 min 4 sec ago
Follow

Saudi defense minister arrives in Tehran for an official visit

  • Prince Khalid will hold several meetings to discuss bilateral relations

DUBAI: Saudi Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, arrived on Thursday in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on an official visit, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

During the visit, Prince Khalid will hold several meetings to discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest between the two countries.

The visit follows renewed diplomatic engagement between the two countries. On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, during which they discussed regional developments and efforts to address them.

Echos Of Civil War
50 years on, Lebanon remains hostage to sectarian rivalries
Enter
keywords

Launch of Cinamaa platform marks push for film studies in Saudi Arabia

Updated 17 April 2025
Follow

Launch of Cinamaa platform marks push for film studies in Saudi Arabia

  • Saudi Film Commission and National Film Archive launch platform to educate and support budding filmmakers
  • Experts describe the importance of developing film studies in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: The Saudi Film Commission has introduced a new initiative, Cinamaa, to promote film studies and support people entering the industry.

A launch event was held on Wednesday at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh, hosted by the commission and National Film Archive.

The Cinamaa website, a platform intended to help educate aspiring filmmakers, critics, and film enthusiasts, allowing them to share their work, gives users access to articles, research studies, discussions, workshops, and short films on various topics related to film.

Following a panel discussion in which she spoke on the importance of film studies in academia, Salma Tarek, professor of literature at the University of Cairo’s French language department, told Arab News: “We need to distinguish between academic studies, meaning university-level education, and studies at film institutes, which aim to train technicians and filmmakers.”

The latter is very important and widely available, she said, but cinema studies at the school and university levels are still lacking.

“Abroad, for example, children in elementary school have reading and literacy programs that include a section on how to ‘read’ a film. They learn what a shot is, what camera movement means, because these have become part of the basic language of how we interpret the world around us,” Tarek said.

“Cinema is no longer just an art form; it is a form of discourse. We are constantly exposed to it, and it’s very important that we learn how to decode its messages.”

Tarek said that these are messages that are constantly being sent to viewers, who must receive them in an open and thoughtful way.

“The university is the institution best suited to play this role.”

When asked what can be done to push this agenda forward, the professor said that first, there must be conviction in the value of cinema studies, a task she said is “not simple.”

The entry point, however, is in interdisciplinary studies.

“For example, literature departments can offer courses on the relationship between performance art and cinema. In history departments, there can be a course on cinema and history. Gradually, these borders will open up, and we will start to develop a cinematic culture within academic institutions.”

These institutions will then have the capabilities and foundation to establish dedicated departments for cinema studies, which Tarek said is the “ultimate goal.”

The panel also discussed the need for more original Arabic content in addition to translations of foreign films.

Tareq Al-Khawaji, film critic and cultural adviser at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, said that young Saudis interested in screenplay writing have a great opportunity to develop scripts that can contribute to bolstering the cinematic scene in the Kingdom.

The launch of Cinamaa was followed by the signing of two memoranda of understanding between the Saudi Film Commission and its partners, the Saudi Broadcasting Authority and the International Federation of Film Critics.

The commission’s CEO Abdullah Al-Qahtani took the stage with Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, SBA CEO and former editor in chief of Arab News, and Fipresci CEO Ahmad Shawky.

The establishment of the Cinema Critics Association was also announced, the first independent professional entity dedicated to film criticism in Saudi.

At the end of the night, the doors opened to welcome guests into an exhibition on film history in the Arab world.