๐Ÿ“ Riyadh โ€” Jumada I 7, 1447 AH (October 29, 2025)

Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum, said Saudi Arabia leads the region in harnessing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to achieve sustainable development, noting that artificial intelligence is expected to contribute around 12 percent of the Kingdom's GDP by 2030, thanks to its ambitious vision that has made it a global leader in technology and innovation.

He made the remarks in his opening address at the Third Saudi Forum on the Fourth Industrial Revolution 2025, organized by the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Saudi Arabia in partnership with the World Economic Forum and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), under the theme "Global Tech Horizons," attended by a number of ministers, technology and innovation leaders, and decision-makers from government, private and academic sectors.

Brende said AI technologies represent a key driver of global economic growth over the coming decade, projecting they could add around $16 trillion to the global economy by 2030, calling for stronger international cooperation to harness technology in the service of sustainable development.

Dr. Basmah Al-Buhairan, executive director of the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Saudi Arabia, said the convergence of AI with biotechnology and quantum computing is helping to develop innovative solutions that support people and advance development, stressing the importance of adopting a responsible approach to technology use to balance progress with social justice.

The forum's proceedings opened with a panel titled "Governing Convergence Across Borders, Sectors and Societies," featuring Dr. Munir Eldesouki, president of KACST; Dr. Mohammed Alhayaza, president of Alfaisal University; and Jeremy Jurgens, managing director of the World Economic Forum, who agreed that industrial competitiveness and economic resilience require conscious technology governance and effective international integration.

The forum also featured a session titled "Leading National Transformation Through Data and AI," presented by Dr. Essam Al-Wagait, president of the National Information Center, who reviewed the Kingdom's efforts in building an advanced digital infrastructure that enhances the efficiency of government services and supports decision-making, alongside an initiative to accelerate the digitization of enterprises and enable them to adopt modern technologies.

The panel discussions also addressed a number of future themes, including technology governance, industrial and digital transformation, education in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, investment in strategic minerals and semiconductors, ethical AI, and the smart economy.

The forum also saw the signing of strategic partnerships between the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Alfaisal University to develop national capabilities in the quantum economy, alongside partnerships between KACST and global companies such as GlycanAge, Ilot Solutions, CNTXT and Giza Arabia, aimed at transferring and localizing advanced technologies and strengthening the national innovation ecosystem.

The events also included the signing of agreements to support startups graduating from KACST's Venture Program (KVP), and partnerships in 3D printing, smart manufacturing and technology transfer, alongside an accompanying exhibition showcasing the latest applications in industrial metaverse, robotics and smart supply chains.

Participants agreed that the Kingdom is moving confidently toward building a knowledge- and advanced-technology-based economy, strengthening its international competitiveness and achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in economic diversification and innovation empowerment.