GENEVA: Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening global cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on ethical governance, responsible innovation, and sustainable development.
The commitment was underscored during a meeting between President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi and UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany on the sidelines of the AI for Good Global Summit, held in Geneva from July 6 to 7.
The two sides reviewed ongoing strategic cooperation between the Kingdom and UNESCO in the rapidly evolving field of AI and explored avenues to expand international partnerships aimed at developing ethical frameworks and governance mechanisms for advanced AI technologies.
Dr. Alghamdi praised UNESCO’s leading role in promoting responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of multilateral collaboration to ensure AI technologies serve humanity while supporting inclusive and sustainable development.
Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing global leadership in AI governance, Dr. Alghamdi outlined the Kingdom’s contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the establishment of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh.
Established under the auspices of UNESCO as a Category 2 international center, ICAIRE serves as a global platform for advancing AI research, promoting awareness of AI ethics, supporting policy development, and strengthening international capacity-building in responsible AI.
Dr. Alghamdi also showcased Saudi Arabia’s efforts to translate global ethical principles into practical national initiatives through SDAIA-led programs. These include the launch of the Kingdom’s AI Ethics Principles, the awarding of AI Ethics Labels to more than 60 companies across Saudi Arabia, and the introduction of the National AI Index, which measures the maturity of AI adoption across government entities.
He said these initiatives reinforce responsible AI governance while fostering innovation centered on human values, transparency, and accountability.
The meeting reflected Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to play a leading international role in shaping the future of AI governance through strategic partnerships, ethical leadership, and practical policy implementation.
