DAVOS: For World Economic Forum regulars, Monday in Davos is typically a relaxing start to the week, a time to reconnect, plan meetings, and prepare for the hectic schedule ahead.
This year, Saudi Arabia moved quickly to fill that lull, taking center stage with a packed program of panels ahead of Tuesday’s official opening.
At Saudi House, Saudi Arabia’s official pavilion on the Promenade, which has returned after debuting as an independent venue at the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting, Saudi ministers and global executives expressed how the kingdom views the next stage of its transformation.
Established by the Ministry of Economic Planning, the venue is pitched as a platform for international thought leaders to address the challenges, opportunities and solutions shaping the global economy.
Opening a session on the Kingdom’s role and the next phase of Vision 2030 (now in its 10th year and roughly two-thirds complete) at this year’s forum, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar, said, “If you want a competitive modern economy, human capital is the real driving force.”
She said one of the greatest achievements of the past decade was the emergence of a highly capable group of young Saudis who can work anywhere in the world but “choose to come home, build at home and deliver from home,” calling this “the greatest symbol of the success of Vision 2030.”
Who can provide the best access to opportunity while addressing risk? I would argue that Saudi Arabia could provide that formula.
Khalid al-FarhihSaudi Minister of Investment
Speaking on the same panel, Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said this success was rooted in “changes in behavior” that strengthened Saudi Arabia’s trust with both international partners and its own citizens.
“Confidence comes from being very pragmatic about ensuring we maintain fiscal policy discipline while at the same time refocusing resources where they matter,” he said, warning that “if we’re not serious, markets will call us a bluff.”
Saudi House, a cross-ministerial initiative led by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, aims to highlight the Kingdom’s “commitment to global cooperation” by providing a “platform where visionary ideas are shared and shaped,” while showcasing opportunities and lessons from the “unprecedented national transformation.”
Echoing earlier comments to Arab News, Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Abrahim said the Kingdom’s role as a bastion of stability has helped unlock its potential, stressing that while the goal is to move away from dependence on a single commodity, “2030 is not the goal.”
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said Saudi Arabia has enabled access to opportunities while addressing key risks, arguing that few countries can match Saudi Arabia’s overall mix.
“No country meets all of these 100 percent,” he says. “But who can provide a combination that addresses all these risks while providing optimal access to opportunities?
“I would argue that Saudi Arabia could provide that formula, and the proof is in the facts,” he said, noting that domestic investment has doubled in recent years to levels comparable to India and China.
While social change dominated much of the morning’s discussion, the afternoon’s focus shifted to technology, tourism, sport and culture, highlighting the four strategic areas expected to spearhead the next phase of Vision 2030.
The Ministry of Economy and Planning used the day to announce the SUSTAIN platform, scheduled to launch in 2026, which aims to accelerate AI-powered cross-sector collaboration for sustainable development.
The ministry said Sustain transforms Saudi public and private sector coordination obligations into a practical national tool that helps government agencies, businesses, investors, academia and civil society identify trusted partners, form trusted coalitions and move efforts “more efficiently from planning to implementation” to address global challenges where fragmented partnerships often delay delivery and blunt impact.
Dina Powell McCormick, who was recently named Meta’s president and vice chairman, welcomed Saudi Arabia’s “desire” to partner with technology companies and embrace innovation, saying, “We are at a moment when technology may have a profound impact on the surface of humanity.”
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb spoke about how technology is being implemented in his field, emphasizing that “in travel and tourism, people are very important. We learn other people’s cultures through interaction with people. We digitize what is unnecessary and humanize what is necessary.”
He added that while technological transformation is a priority, “we don’t want to replace this large workforce with technology. I think we need to protect them in Saudi Arabia, where we are setting an example. I support keeping the people.”
Throughout the week, Saudi House will host more than 20 sessions, including more than 10 sessions certified by the WEF, across six themes: Bold Visions, Insights into Impact, People and Human Capabilities, Quality of Life, Investing and Collaboration, and Welcoming the World.
The pavilion will also launch ‘NextOn’, a new series of influential and educational talks featuring the world’s leading voices.
