Saudi Shoura Council urges cooperation at Mediterranean assembly

1 / 2
Saudi Shoura Council Vice Speaker Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean in Rome on Thursday. (SPA)
2 / 2
Attendees of the 19th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean join a family photo session on Thursday. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 21 February 2025
Follow

Saudi Shoura Council urges cooperation at Mediterranean assembly

  • Vice Speaker Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, head of the Saudi delegation, emphasizes boosting ties with Kingdom, GCC at opening of 2-day session in Rome

ROME: A delegation of the Kingdom’s Shoura Council attended the 19th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean on Thursday as an observer, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Vice Speaker Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, head of the council’s delegation, spoke at the opening of PAM’s two-day session in Rome, emphasizing the opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the Kingdom and Mediterranean countries in various fields.

Al-Sulami said there was also potential for collaboration between the Mediterranean basin and the six-nation GCC, of which Saudi Arabia is a member.

He highlighted the Kingdom’s initiatives promoting global security, peace, stability, and development including the Arab Peace Initiative, Yemen ceasefire, Sudanese peace talks, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and Middle East Green Initiative.

Al-Sulami also spoke about Saudi Arabia’s critical role in this week’s US-Russia talks, which was held in Riyadh, and the humanitarian aid provided to countries affected by wars and disasters.

Over 300 delegates from national parliaments, international organizations, academia, and diplomatic missions participated in the event, which was hosted by the speakers of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

Morocco’s Enaam Mayara, the president of PAM, convened the session.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a video message urging the participants to “keep working for peace, sustainable development and human rights for the people of the Mediterranean region and our world.”


Saudi Arabia emerges as regional leader in government AI

Updated 5 sec ago
Follow

Saudi Arabia emerges as regional leader in government AI

  • Saudi Arabia also placed seventh globally in the governance pillar and ninth worldwide for public-sector AI adoption

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has topped the Middle East and North Africa in the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2025, underlining the Kingdom’s rapid progress in adopting artificial intelligence across government services, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The index, one of the world’s leading benchmarks for artificial intelligence policy and regulatory planning, assesses the ability of 195 governments to deploy and leverage AI in public policy.

It evaluates performance across governance, infrastructure and institutional readiness.

Saudi Arabia also placed seventh globally in the governance pillar and ninth worldwide for public-sector AI adoption, highlighting balanced development across both regulatory frameworks and practical implementation.

The strong showing reflects the maturity of the Kingdom’s national AI ecosystem and its growing role in promoting the responsible use of advanced technologies to improve government efficiency, enhance quality of life and support the objectives of Vision 2030, SPA added.

The achievement comes amid continued backing for the Saudi Data and AI Authority from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also chairman of SDAIA’s board of directors, enabling sustained investment in data-driven capabilities and AI innovation.

The report highlighted Saudi Arabia’s performance in key areas including AI infrastructure, supported by national platforms such as HUMAIN, as well as progress in AI governance, public-sector digital transformation and the development of flexible national policies to accelerate AI adoption.