Saudi Arabia used the opening day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos to position itself at the centre of several major global initiatives spanning environmental protection, artificial intelligence, tourism and industrial transformation.
The announcements, observed by the Saudi delegation in Davos, underline the Kingdom’s ambition to play a convening and leadership role on issues that sit at the intersection of sustainability, technology and economic diversification.
At the #WEF26 panel titled “Experiencing the World,” H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb highlighted the vast potential for further growth in tourism, underscoring the vital role of global platforms like TOURISE in tackling industry challenges across the tourism ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia to host first Global Coral Reef Summit
Her Royal Highness Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States, announced that Saudi Arabia will host the first Global Coral Reef Summit in 2026.
The summit will bring together political leaders, scientists, investors and environmental organisations with the objective of accelerating solutions for the protection and recovery of coral reef ecosystems. It will focus on closing policy and regulatory gaps, advancing science-based approaches, and unlocking sustainable financing mechanisms to scale reef conservation and restoration efforts globally.
The initiative reinforces Saudi Arabia’s growing environmental diplomacy, particularly in marine protection and climate resilience.
Tourism framed as a force for dialogue and peace
Speaking in Davos, His Excellency Ahmed Alkhateeb, Minister of Tourism, emphasised the role of tourism as a stabilising and unifying force in an increasingly fragmented world.
“Tourism brings peace at a time when it’s needed — connecting people and encouraging dialogue,” he said, adding that tourism growth delivers tangible social benefits, particularly for youth and women.
The remarks align with Saudi Arabia’s broader tourism strategy, which positions the sector as both an economic driver and a soft-power tool.
Vision 2030 progress and AI ambitions
Addressing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and digital transformation, His Excellency Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, highlighted the progress achieved under Vision 2030.
He noted that non-oil activities now account for 56% of GDP and that the Kingdom’s technology workforce has expanded significantly, driven by youth participation and skills development. Saudi Arabia aims to leverage this momentum to establish itself as a global hub for AI and advanced digital infrastructure.
$1.2 billion framework to expand hyperscale AI infrastructure
Earlier in the day, AI company HUMAIN and the National Infrastructure Fund (Infra) announced a Strategic Financing Framework Agreement of up to $1.2 billion.
The non-binding agreement is designed to support the development of up to 250 megawatts of hyperscale AI data centre capacity across the Kingdom, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s digital backbone and supporting the growth of data-intensive industries.
Land restoration and business mobilisation
Separately, the COP16 Presidency of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification launched the Business4Land (B4L) Champions’ Council in Davos.
The high-level coalition brings together CEOs, investors, sustainability leaders and policymakers to accelerate land restoration efforts, combat land degradation and improve drought resilience, reinforcing the role of the private sector in addressing environmental degradation.
Manufacturing transformation and critical minerals cooperation
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, in partnership with WEF, also unveiled the Lighthouse Operating System, a national framework designed to accelerate manufacturing transformation. Developed with WEF’s Advanced Manufacturing and Production Centre, the initiative aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s industrial base and position the Kingdom as a global hub for advanced manufacturing and logistics.
In parallel, the ministry and WEF confirmed a cooperation agreement, announced the previous week at the Future Minerals Forum, running until September 2027. Overseen by a joint executive committee, the agreement focuses on strengthening collaboration around critical minerals essential for energy transition technologies and industrial resilience.
A broad, coordinated message from Davos
Taken together, the announcements in Davos reflect a coordinated Saudi strategy: combining environmental leadership, technology investment, tourism development and industrial policy to address global challenges while advancing national economic transformation.
At WEF 2026, Saudi Arabia has positioned itself not only as a participant in global dialogue, but as a proactive agenda-setter across multiple strategic fronts.
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Photo courtesy WEF
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