On January 26, 2025, a high-level delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concluded its impactful participation in the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, marking the conclusion of an important chapter in the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a leading player on the global stage. The Saudi delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, wrapped up the event by announcing that Saudi Arabia would host a regular high-level World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Meeting in Riyadh beginning in Spring 2026. This announcement was seen as a testament to the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering international collaboration and shaping a prosperous future for the region and the world.
Held from January 20 to 24, the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum brought together political leaders, business executives, academics, and thought leaders from across the globe to discuss the pressing challenges of the modern world and explore opportunities for growth and cooperation. Saudi Arabia’s delegation, which included a broad representation from key ministries, participated in a series of high-level panels and discussions aimed at addressing global issues while emphasizing the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the global economic landscape. Prince Faisal bin Farhan led the delegation through a series of impactful dialogues with international counterparts, signaling a new era of Saudi Arabia’s engagement with the world.
One of the key themes of the Saudi delegation's participation at the WEF was the call for increased global collaboration to combat a fragmented world, underscoring the importance of unity, sustainable transitions, and disruptive innovation. As global challenges become ever more complex, the Kingdom’s leadership emphasized the need to rewrite the global economic playbook and steer the world toward innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions. The Saudi delegation participated in a wide range of public and private panel sessions, bilateral meetings, and media interviews, where they shared the Kingdom’s vision for the future, its commitment to Vision 2030, and the unprecedented opportunities it presents for global investors and partners.
The delegation was composed of several influential ministers and government officials, including Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, and Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim. Together, they participated in discussions on a wide array of critical topics, such as The Global Economic Outlook, The Future of Growth, Emerging Economies Amid Shocks, Diplomacy Amid Disorder, Safeguarding Nature, The Way We Will Travel, and Next-Gen Industrial Infrastructure.
The Ministry of Economy and Planning also made a significant contribution by hosting the first-ever Saudi House pavilion at the WEF Annual Meeting. This pavilion served as a global platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s transformative initiatives under Vision 2030. It also facilitated discussions on social and economic transformation both within Saudi Arabia and globally, with representatives from the government and private sector coming together to offer solutions to various global challenges. Over the course of the week, the Saudi House pavilion attracted over 5,000 visitors, offering them a glimpse into the Kingdom’s unprecedented social, economic, and human transformation. Additionally, the pavilion served as a valuable venue to highlight the numerous high-impact investment opportunities emerging in Saudi Arabia, further solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for investment and innovation.
Among the significant announcements during the event was the release of a briefing paper by the Ministry of Tourism, which included insights from Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb on sustainable and inclusive growth in the travel and tourism sector. The Ministry also unveiled an Investor White Paper, outlining the transformative initiatives driving the Kingdom’s tourism sector forward under Vision 2030.
In another major development, the Saudi delegation facilitated the signing of an agreement between the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to establish a new Centre for Cyber Economics (CCE) in Riyadh. This centre will focus on the economic dimensions of cybersecurity, driving research, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and developing frameworks to enhance global cyber resilience and economic stability.
Additionally, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) made a significant announcement, revealing that Jubail Industrial City is the first in the region to join WEF’s initiative to decarbonize industrial clusters. This initiative, launched in collaboration with Accenture and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), aims to address the urgent challenge of industrial decarbonization and accelerate sustainable development within the Kingdom.
Further underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to driving innovation, the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority published a report on the Saudi Arabia’s Markets of Tomorrow Accelerator. This initiative, launched in collaboration with WEF’s Accelerator Network, is focused on driving economic transformation through innovative, entrepreneurship-driven solutions while tackling challenges and accelerating development in key emerging markets.
The week also saw major announcements in the private sector, with Salesforce unveiling plans to open a new regional headquarters in Riyadh. The company also pledged to upskill 30,000 Saudi citizens by 2030 and announced a partnership with IBM to establish an AI Innovation Center in the Kingdom, further supporting the Kingdom’s efforts to build a world-class innovation ecosystem.
In conclusion, the Saudi Arabia delegation’s participation at the WEF Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos was a resounding success, with the Kingdom making significant strides in showcasing its Vision 2030 agenda, driving global collaboration, and attracting investment. The announcement that Riyadh will host a regular high-level WEF Global Meeting starting in 2026 solidifies Saudi Arabia’s position as a key player in shaping the future of the global economy and fostering sustainable growth across sectors.