Saudi Arabia strengthens global partnerships for inclusive digital future

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha affirmed that Saudi Arabia continues to work with international partners to enhance connectivity and make technology and artificial intelligence opportunities accessible to all, with the support of the Saudi leadership.

Al-Swaha made these remarks during his speech at the ministerial roundtable in Doha, as part of the Kingdom’s participation in the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference. He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s full support for the Doha Declaration and called for expanding international partnerships from connectivity to computing capacity, to ensure broader participation in the era of artificial intelligence.

He highlighted global progress over the past four years in expanding connectivity, noting that the number of people without internet access has fallen from 2.6 billion to 2 billion. He stressed the importance of international cooperation to bridge the gap in access to artificial intelligence and to harness its opportunities.

Al-Swaha pointed out that nearly 90% of the computing capacity needed to develop and operate advanced AI models is concentrated in just two countries, underscoring the need for international partnerships to broaden access to these capabilities and ensure wider participation in the AI-driven economy. He warned of the risk of a widening digital divide in this field.

He also noted that Saudi Arabia, together with its partners and the International Telecommunication Union, has helped mobilize $100 billion through the “Partner2Connect” initiative, which has contributed to narrowing the digital divide. He called for building on these efforts and moving towards a “Partnership for Computing” to expand the capabilities needed for AI development.

Al-Swaha affirmed that Saudi Arabia is leveraging its position as a global energy partner to support the AI era by allocating land, computing capacity, and energy resources to help create opportunities for all.

In the area of women’s empowerment, he highlighted Saudi Arabia’s partnership with the International Telecommunication Union in the “EQUALS” program and the progress made in empowering women in technology and digitalization. He noted that Saudi Arabia recorded the highest representation of women among leading AI researchers and innovators, according to the 2026 Stanford University AI Index Report.

Al-Swaha concluded by reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to ongoing partnership with the international community to enhance connectivity and build a better future for all in the digital and smart world.