Global mobility leaders gather in Riyadh as CoMotion GLOBAL 2025 opens

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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. (Supplied)
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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. (Supplied)
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Updated 07 December 2025
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Global mobility leaders gather in Riyadh as CoMotion GLOBAL 2025 opens

  • 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

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.


Lucia festival lights up Swedish Embassy in Riyadh

Updated 11 December 2025
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Lucia festival lights up Swedish Embassy in Riyadh

RIYADH: A celebration of light and traditional choir singing illuminated the Swedish Embassy in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter on Wednesday evening for the country’s Lucia festival.

Based on ancient pre-Christian traditions intertwined with the story of Saint Lucy, who is depicted wearing a crown of candles, the festival is cherished for bringing some respite from the dark Scandinavian winter.

The Riyadh embassy hosted a number of dignitaries and members of the Swedish community in Saudi Arabia, with catering provided by Ikea.

Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Petra Menander spoke to Arab News about the significance of the festival.

“It's a very, very old tradition that leads back to our peasant times when we needed to fight the darkness with light,” she said.

“And so we actually adopted an old tradition from Italy where Lucia comes with light in her hair and that made us all feel very, very comfortable.

“And it’s something that we actually celebrate just as much as the other holidays, like Christmas or so on. It’s inescapable, at all schools, everywhere.”

Holding the festival in Riyadh was particularly special as it not only brought a glimpse of Swedish culture to Saudi Arabia, but also helped Swedish nationals living in the Kingdom reconnect with their homeland.

“I think it’s a very nice way to bring Swedish culture overseas, but it’s also a nice way of getting the Swedish community together,” said Menander.

“We just have many people who come from mixed backgrounds and they’re very happy that they can introduce their children to this tradition even if they’re living very far away from Sweden. So, it’s a very warm feeling for me.”