RIYADH: Riyadh is in the global spotlight this week as CoMotion GLOBAL 2025, one of the world’s leading urban mobility summits, opened in the Saudi capital on Sunday, bringing together policymakers, mayors and industry leaders to shape the future of transport and cities.

Running from December 7 to 9, the three-day summit will explore how electrification, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence and large-scale urban developments are transforming mobility worldwide, while highlighting Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a real-world testbed for next-generation transport solutions.

The event is hosted by the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority, with support from a wide range of Saudi government bodies involved in transport, urban planning and digital governance. 

Senior officials and global industry figures are taking part, alongside mobility companies demonstrating cleaner and more connected transport systems.

A key feature of the summit is the launch of two new initiatives — Mayors in Motion, a global network designed to help city leaders exchange practical mobility solutions, and the CoMotion Urban Visionary Distinction, recognising leadership in urban innovation.

“CoMotion GLOBAL is where the world's urban mobility future takes shape, and the energy in Riyadh today is extraordinary,” said John Rossant, founder and CEO of CoMotion GLOBAL. 

“From ministers to mayors to the world's most inventive technologists, the conversation is clear: the next decade of mobility transformation will be shaped at the city level. Riyadh is the perfect host for that dialogue – bold, ambitious, and redefining what a future-ready city can be,” he added.

The summit will also examine Riyadh’s expanding transport infrastructure, including its metro megaproject, the growth of electric vehicle adoption and the role major global events such as Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup could play in accelerating long-term mobility upgrades.

CoMotion GLOBAL 2025 has also been fully climate-offset through an international waste-to-energy initiative, underlining the event’s focus on sustainable urban development.