Tourism in Davos: Saudi Arabia, the world's partner in the smart age
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become the ideal partner and a cornerstone for the world in bridging the computing gap and shaping the future of the smart era. This came during his active participation in a dialogue session entitled "Integrating Technologies to Achieve Leadership," as part of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, where he highlighted the major transformations taking place in the Kingdom with the unlimited support and empowerment of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him.
Strategic vision and unique strengths
In discussing the factors that position the Kingdom as a global computing hub, Al-Swaha explained that Saudi Arabia possesses an exceptional mix of resources that qualify it for this leadership role, from abundant and diverse energy sources to venture capital and long-term strategic planning. These factors combined create a fertile environment for innovators and investors to accelerate the realization of economic value and achieve sustainable growth that benefits humanity and protects the planet.
Economic context and digital transformation
Al-Swaha's remarks come at a time when the Kingdom is witnessing unprecedented technological advancements as part of its Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and transform it into a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. The minister cited figures reflecting this reality, noting that the Kingdom now represents approximately 50% of the region's digital economy and has secured the lion's share of venture capital funding and the incubation of billion-dollar companies (unicorns). This rapid digital ascent has placed the Kingdom first and second globally in the World Economic Forum's digital transformation indices.
An ambition that transcends limits
His Excellency emphasized that the Kingdom's ambition in the age of artificial intelligence is not merely local, but global, aiming to make Saudi Arabia a testing ground and a major expansion platform for technology companies. He affirmed that every dollar invested in the Kingdom's digital infrastructure generates many times its value in the software sector and applied use cases, citing successful models in the healthcare sector that have directly contributed to improving quality of life and increasing productivity.
The importance of international partnership
Al-Sawah concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the Kingdom’s prosperity positively impacts the prosperity of the region and the world, noting that Saudi Arabia is not content with merely participating in the smart era, but rather seeks to shape its features through building strategic international partnerships, investing heavily in computing, and empowering human minds, to solidify its position as an indispensable and reliable partner in building the new global digital economy system.
