Saudi Arabia ranks third in global AI policy review, behind US, UK

Saudi Arabia ranks third in global AI policy review, behind US, UK
Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, Dec. 16 (SPA)
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Updated 17 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia ranks third in global AI policy review, behind US, UK

Saudi Arabia ranks third in global AI policy review, behind US, UK
  • Kingdom’s rating highlights efforts in AI regulation
  • UNESCO praises country’s advances in accordance with ethical values

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has been ranked third globally in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s AI Policy Observatory, behind the US and the UK.

Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, referenced the Kingdom’s advances during a panel discussion at the Internet Governance Forum on Monday at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.

Al-Ghamdi said that Saudi Arabia’s third-place global ranking highlighted the Kingdom’s substantial efforts at AI regulation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He credited the country’s recognition to its placing ethics at the heart of AI initiatives since the establishment of SDAIA in 2019, highlighting the international significance of this focus, the SPA added.

Al-Ghamdi added that the Kingdom’s AI Ethics Early Adopters initiative and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics were vital in enhancing trust in AI products and establishing ethical standards for AI practices and services.

He said that ICAIRE, which is based in Riyadh and sponsored by UNESCO, had been selected as a regional and global partner for advancing the AI ethics agenda.

Al-Ghamdi added that UNESCO had praised Saudi Arabia’s advances in the AI sector as part of a recent report evaluating countries’ readiness to adopt AI in accordance with ethical values and international standards.

He said that the Kingdom was prepared to share its expertise with other countries and had significantly contributed to establishing a UN-affiliated AI advisory body in 2023.

He added that Saudi Arabia had collaborated with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League to organize workshops on raising awareness about ethical evaluation tools for AI.

Al-Ghamdi said several initiatives had been launched during the Global AI Summit in Riyadh in September, including the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence, in partnership with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

He stressed that trust, transparency, clear guidelines, and proactive risk management were priorities that had positioned Saudi Arabia as a global leader in harnessing AI for the benefit of humanity.


King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as advisor to the Saudi Royal Court

King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as advisor to the Saudi Royal Court
Updated 3 sec ago
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King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as advisor to the Saudi Royal Court

King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as advisor to the Saudi Royal Court
  • Al-Fayyad has been executive general supervisor at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre since 2017
  • He graduated in 1990 from King Saud University’s medical school and has amassed decades of clinical, academic and administrative experience

JEDDAH: In a royal order issued on Wednesday, King Salman appointed Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as an advisor to the Saudi Royal Court.

Al-Fayyad is the executive general supervisor at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, which has facilities in Riyadh, Madinah and Jeddah. He graduated in 1990 from the medical school at King Saud University in Riyadh, and has amassed decades of clinical, academic and administrative experience.

In the US, he undertook specialized training in pediatrics at Tufts University, and in pediatric cardiology at Columbia University. He holds several certifications and degrees, including a master’s in medical administration awarded by the University of Southern California in 2015.

He was appointed in 2017 to his current position at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, where he has helped spearhead key reforms to the Saudi healthcare sector. He has also played important roles in national healthcare committees and initiatives, earning recognition for his contributions to research and administration.


Saudi deputy FM receives UK ambassador in Riyadh

Saudi deputy FM receives UK ambassador in Riyadh
Updated 11 min 8 sec ago
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Saudi deputy FM receives UK ambassador in Riyadh

Saudi deputy FM receives UK ambassador in Riyadh

Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi was visited by UK Ambassador to the Kingdom Neil Crompton in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The ambassador visited to bid farewell on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the Kingdom, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.

Al-Rassi praised the ambassador’s efforts in strengthening and advancing relations between the two countries.


Riyadh museum to host interactive camp for kids

Riyadh museum to host interactive camp for kids
Updated 44 min 55 sec ago
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Riyadh museum to host interactive camp for kids

Riyadh museum to host interactive camp for kids

JEDDAH: The National Museum in Riyadh will launch its third interactive summer camp, themed “Made in the Museum,” for children aged 10 to 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The initiative is part of the “Year of Handicrafts,” celebrating Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and its role in shaping national identity and intergenerational bonds.

The camp has two sessions: July 21-31 and Aug. 4-14, running daily from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., both inside the museum and outdoors.

Designed as an educational and immersive experience, the camp invites participants to explore and revive traditional Saudi crafts, the SPA added.

Children will engage in hands-on activities in four core tracks: clay crafts, textiles, woodworking, and supportive crafts, blending play, learning, and exploration.

This year’s camp strengthens the museum’s role as a community hub, providing children with opportunities to develop critical thinking and design skills while inspiring their imagination and showing the cultural and economic importance of handicrafts.

The camp encourages children to make and show their projects at the end of each session, helping them feel confident and encouraging new ideas and creativity.


Riyadh hospital succeeds in rare disease treatment

Riyadh hospital succeeds in rare disease treatment
Updated 53 min 7 sec ago
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Riyadh hospital succeeds in rare disease treatment

Riyadh hospital succeeds in rare disease treatment
  • The hospital has provided 22 years of care for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, culminating in a successful liver transplant — the first worldwide for this condition

RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh has provided 22 years of care for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, culminating in a successful liver transplant — the first worldwide for this condition.

Diagnosed in infancy with congenital plasminogen deficiency, the patient required ongoing treatment to manage fibrous deposits affecting her tissues and organs, according to a press release.

Over the two decades, a multidisciplinary team including hematology, transplant specialists, nursing, nutrition and IT supported her care, the report said.

The patient’s father said: “She suffered from birth and couldn’t nurse. We had no clear answers until we found hope through the care provided by the Saudi government. After 22 years of struggle, we witness our daughter’s recovery.”

The treatment involved regular plasminogen infusions and eyedrops to reduce the disease’s effect on her vision, with annual costs exceeding SR6 million ($1.6 million), fully covered by the government.

Dr. Hazzaa Al-Zahrani, director of the adult hematology and stem-cell transplant division at the center and supervising physician, said that managing the case required a precise and long-term approach to prevent complications and ensure stability.

He said that the decision to proceed with a liver transplant came after careful consideration as an extraordinary therapeutic option for this exceptionally rare case.

The procedure’s success marked a turning point in her medical journey and was a beacon of hope for patients with similar conditions worldwide, Al-Zahrani added.


Program to boost youth, SME role in Saudi economy

Program to boost youth, SME role in Saudi economy
Updated 58 min 1 sec ago
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Program to boost youth, SME role in Saudi economy

Program to boost youth, SME role in Saudi economy

RIYADH: The Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Guarantee Program, known as Kafalah, in collaboration with the Riyadh Chamber, will hold interactive sessions on July 15 to mark World Youth Skills Day.

The initiative aims to raise awareness and develop entrepreneurial skills among youth, entrepreneurs and SMEs, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The sessions will cover key topics to boost youth contributions to national economic development, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan.

Focus areas include access to finance, building administrative and financial capabilities, enhancing SME sustainability, and turning ideas into viable projects.

These sessions highlight the collaboration between entities supporting the SME sector in the Kingdom, the SPA added.

The Kafalah program and Riyadh Chamber aim to foster youth growth and strengthen their role in the national economy.

Kafalah supports micro, small and medium enterprises by providing financial guarantees, improving their access to financing and reducing lending risks for banks.