Saudi Arabia’s strategic vision for future growth was a focal point at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Economy and Planning Minister Faisal F. Alibrahim emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to its long-term development strategy, Saudi Vision 2030, during a session on growth. He described it as an example of confident and optimistic leadership balanced with careful management.
In another session, Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah discussed the Middle East’s potential post-Gaza ceasefire. He highlighted the resilience and optimism in the region, pointing to progress in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, and expressed hope for a stable future.
The tourism sector’s achievements were highlighted by Tourism Minister Ahmed A. Al-Khateeb, who noted a significant increase in international visitors, from 10 million in 2019 to nearly 30 million in 2024. He credited tourism with contributing to a more diversified and robust economy.
The World Economic Forum also featured insights from Minister Ahmed on sustainable growth in travel and tourism, stressing the importance of collaboration across sectors. Furthermore, the Ministry of Tourism released a white paper outlining transformative initiatives under Vision 2030.
Salesforce announced plans for a regional headquarters in Riyadh, aiming to enhance skills for 30,000 Saudi citizens by 2030. Additionally, a partnership with IBM will establish an AI Innovation Center in the Kingdom.