The Saudi Legal Forum in America kicks off with the attendance of the Cultural Attaché
In a move reflecting the scientific and academic activity of Saudi scholarship students abroad, the Saudi Law Students Association at Washington University in St. Louis (SLSA – WashU LAW) organized on Sunday the "Saudi Legal Forum in the United States of America" event, which was held virtually for the year 2026. The event witnessed a high-level attendance represented by the Saudi Cultural Attaché in the United States of America and Canada and supervisor of South American countries, Dr. Tahani Al-Baiz, along with a group of academics, researchers and law students from various American and Saudi universities.
The context of legislative transformation and the importance of timing
This forum is being held at a strategically crucial time, coinciding with the "legislative revolution" underway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the umbrella of Vision 2030. The Kingdom is experiencing an unprecedented phase of modernization of its systems and laws, such as the Civil Transactions Law and the Evidence Law, making the exchange of expertise between different legal schools imperative. This forum serves as a vital platform for connecting students from prestigious American law schools with the practical realities and evolving needs of the Saudi legal market, thus contributing to bridging the gap between theory and practice within an international legal environment.
Comprehensive themes that reflect the challenges of the era
The forum's program was distinguished by its comprehensiveness and depth, featuring parallel scientific sessions across two main tracks, covering a wide range of contemporary legal issues relevant to both local and global realities. Among the most prominent topics discussed were:
- Technology and Law: Researching the applications of artificial intelligence in supporting and regulating litigation, digital transformations, and protecting user privacy in cyberspace.
- Economy and Investment: Discussion of competition law and market dynamics in comparative systems, the expansion of the legal market between the United States and the Kingdom, as well as environmental licenses and their impact on coastal tourism investment.
- Rights and Society: The sessions addressed frameworks for freedom of opinion and expression, combating harassment, and issues of organ trafficking.
- International and Commercial Law: The interpretation and non-retroactivity of laws, international liability for aviation accidents, and the working patterns of commercial courts under modern legislation were reviewed.
Empowering competencies and building knowledge bridges
Dr. Tahani Al-Baiz's participation underscored the institutional support provided by the Cultural Attaché to student clubs and societies, recognizing them as incubators of thought and creativity. The forum primarily aims to empower young Saudi talents to engage in international legal environments and foster constructive legal dialogue.
The organizers of the forum also seek to achieve long-term goals, which are to highlight legal research related to emerging challenges, and to build strong professional and knowledge networks that support the career and academic paths of Saudi students and researchers in the United States, so that they may return as an active force contributing to the advancement of the judicial and legal sector in the Kingdom.
