As the 56th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting took place in Davos from January 19 to 23, countries across the Middle East and North Africa used the global platform to move beyond dialogue and announce concrete initiatives tied to trade, financing, infrastructure, and long-term economic positioning. Over five days, global leaders convened in Switzerland, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt among the most active regional participants.

Here are some of the key announcements and developments that emerged from Davos during the annual meeting.

UAE deepens institutional partnership with the WEF

The UAE participated in Davos with one of the forum’s largest national delegations. According to the Emirates News Agency, the country was represented by more than 100 ministers, senior government officials, and private-sector leaders, making it the fifth-largest delegation at the annual meeting. UAE representatives took part in ministerial dialogues, bilateral engagements, and strategic sessions focused on economic governance, innovation, and global cooperation.

The UAE’s presence was marked by a series of institutional announcements at the World Economic Forum. During the meeting, the UAE Government and the WEF launched a new phase of their comprehensive strategic partnership, expanding cooperation across future-focused policy areas and long-term global initiatives. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also signed a memorandum of understanding with the forum to strengthen institutional collaboration and coordination on international priorities.

In parallel, the UAE Government and the WEF confirmed additional agreements to deepen cooperation on global development agendas, reinforcing a multi-year partnership framework that extends beyond the annual Davos meeting. These moves positioned the UAE not only as a participant in global dialogue but also as a long-term partner in shaping international platforms for economic cooperation and governance.

Trade and sustainability featured prominently on the UAE’s agenda. Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi held a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, reaffirming the UAE’s commitment to open trade, diversified supply chains, and long-term economic partnerships. Separately, the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding with the WEF to accelerate public-private collaboration on water security and financing, ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the country will co-host.

Saudi Arabia announces $1.2 billion AI infrastructure financing framework

Saudi Arabia’s participation in Davos included several announcements, with a strong focus on digital and infrastructure development. According to the Saudi Press Agency, HUMAIN and the National Infrastructure Fund announced a strategic financing framework agreement of up to $1.2 billion to support the expansion of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure projects across the Kingdom.

The agreement outlines non-binding financing terms to support HUMAIN’s development of up to 250 megawatts of hyperscale AI data center capacity, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s push to scale advanced digital infrastructure and support next-generation technologies. The announcement reflects a broader strategy to enable AI growth through physical infrastructure, financing mechanisms, and institutional coordination rather than standalone technology launches.

The Kingdom also announced the Lighthouse Operating System, a country-level framework developed by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the WEF to accelerate manufacturing transformation. Separately, the Quality of Life Program Center and UN-Habitat unveiled the outcomes of the Quality of Life Initiative, a global platform supporting people-centered urban development.

Saudi Arabia participated in the annual meeting with a high-level delegation that included senior ministers responsible for foreign affairs, finance, investment, economy and planning, communications and information technology, industry, and tourism. During the forum, Saudi officials emphasized that the Kingdom’s economic transformation is anchored in long-term structural reform, infrastructure investment, and diversification, with digital capacity positioned as a key enabler of future growth.

Saudi Arabia also confirmed that it will host the WEF Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting in Jeddah later this year, positioning the Kingdom as a platform for continued global dialogue and coordinated economic action beyond Davos.

Qatar highlights sustainable trade and resilient connectivity

Qatar used its Davos engagement to spotlight the future of global trade infrastructure. According to the state’s news agency, the Qatar Free Zones Authority held discussions with international stakeholders on sustainable trade and resilient connectivity, emphasizing the role of free zones in supporting diversified supply chains and modern logistics networks.

These discussions aligned with Qatar’s broader strategy to position itself as a hub for sustainable commerce, green logistics, and digitally enabled trade routes, particularly as global trade patterns continue to evolve.

Egypt outlines reform trajectory and economic priorities at Davos

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, outlined Egypt’s economic reform trajectory in an interview with Bloomberg. She said Egypt began implementing macroeconomic reforms at the fiscal and monetary levels in March 2024, with the reform agenda later expanding to include industry, the business environment, and green transformation.

Al-Mashat noted that the integrated reform package has strengthened investor confidence and improved the climate for private investment, including from domestic and foreign companies. She added that Egypt is now focused on maximizing returns from infrastructure investments made over the past decade, as the country prepares to enter a second phase of reform centered on higher-value-added production, productivity gains, and expanded trade.

She also emphasized the reliability of Egypt’s economic data, pointing to the country’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund, periodic reviews, and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals reporting standards. According to Al-Mashat, current challenges relate less to data quality and more to integrating informal economic activities into national accounts.