Saudi Arabia is positioning itself to capitalize on shifting global trade, travel, and technology dynamics, as senior ministers outlined the Kingdom’s economic ambitions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.

Speaking during the session ,Many Shapes of Trade, Minister of Commerce His Excellency Majid A. Alkassabi said global trade is moving toward a more managed, rules-based model. He noted that Saudi Arabia’s strategic location and resource base position it well to serve as a “bridge economy,” connecting Africa, Europe, and Asia, and to act as a global logistics hub amid ongoing supply chain realignments.

Tourism growth was highlighted as a major opportunity. In The New Geography of Travel: Elevating Destinations, Expanding Opportunity, Minister of Tourism His Excellency Ahmed A. Alkhateeb cited UN Tourism projections that global tourist numbers will reach 2 billion by 2030, an increase of 500 million travelers. He said this growth is highly encouraging for Saudi Arabia’s hotel operators, investors, and technology providers, underscoring the sector’s long-term potential.

Economic resilience and policy stability were also central themes. Minister of Finance His Excellency Mohammed A. Aljadaan emphasized the role of policymakers in ensuring a predictable business environment, noting that Saudi Arabia is strengthening its economic foundations to build private-sector confidence.

Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, featured prominently in discussions. In Converging Technologies to Win, Minister of Communications and Information Technology His Excellency Abdullah A. Alswaha said the Kingdom is addressing key AI challenges, including energy and memory constraints, positioning Saudi Arabia as a partner of choice in accelerating and adopting AI.

In the mining sector, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources His Excellency Bandar I. Alkhorayef highlighted the Kingdom’s multilateral approach to cooperation, pointing to the Future Minerals Forum as a leading global platform that aligns policy, investment, and innovation.

Beyond the panel sessions, Davos also saw the launch of the Saudi-U.S. Innovation Partnership, a Global Innovation Platform initiative anchored in Riyadh and Austin, aimed at accelerating collaboration in life sciences, AI, and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, Amplifai Health was named a winner of the World Economic Forum’s MINDS AI Global Alliance initiative.