Visionary global leadership in AI technology

Visionary global leadership in AI technology

Visionary global leadership in AI technology
’s AI journey is about ensuring that technology serves the betterment of humanity. (Shutterstock image)
Short Url

“Technology is best when it brings people together.” This sentiment, expressed by American entrepreneur and web developer Matt Mullenweg, captures ’s dynamic approach to artificial intelligence and innovation perfectly. 

As I reflect on the Kingdom’s remarkable journey, I am inspired by its unwavering commitment to technological advancement and ensuring innovation serves humanity.

is not merely catching up with the future; it is leading the way, crafting a paradigm where technology, ethics and human well-being coalesce into a singular, transformative vision.

In the wake of National Day, stands as a beacon of excellence, demonstrating what it means to integrate AI responsibly and ethically, driving forward with a purpose that goes beyond mere technological prowess.

Through Vision 2030, the Kingdom is proving that technology can be harnessed not just to fuel economic growth but enrich lives, promote sustainability, and create a more connected and prosperous society.

’s AI journey is built on a foundation of responsibility and ethical governance. It is not just about being technologically advanced; it is about ensuring that technology serves the betterment of humanity.

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has spearheaded initiatives that ensure AI development is aligned with principles of fairness, transparency and accountability. This strategic alignment ensures that AI is not just a tool of progress, but a force for good.

Under the framework of Vision 2030, has embedded AI into critical sectors, including healthcare, education and urban development, with a clear focus on human welfare.

AI is being used to transform the healthcare landscape, providing personalized medicine, enabling earlier diagnoses, and improving patient care in ways that were previously unimaginable. These advancements are fostering a healthier and more resilient population.

The Kingdom’s bold giga-projects are redefining what the future looks like, combining AI with sustainability to create smart, sustainable cities. More than just large-scale infrastructure, they represent ’s vision of how technology can be seamlessly woven into the fabric of everyday life.

has embedded AI into critical sectors, including healthcare, education and urban development, with a clear focus on human welfare.

Dr. Maliha Hashmi

 

From AI-powered energy grids to smart transportation systems, these projects are leading the charge toward a future that prioritizes environmental stewardship and human well-being.

By harnessing AI for resource management, these projects are reducing carbon footprints, optimizing energy use and ensuring future generations can enjoy a world that is both technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable.

’s rise to prominence in the AI world is not by chance — it is the result of a well-thought-out strategy that places ethics at the heart of technological progress.

The Kingdom has quickly emerged as a global leader in AI, ranking among the top countries in the world for AI readiness and digital services. This rise is a testament to ’s ability to merge technological advancement with ethical governance.

Collaborating with top global leaders in AI, has fostered an ecosystem of innovation that is built on strong ethical foundations. The Kingdom’s AI framework ensures the technology used is aligned with the highest global standards, promoting transparency, privacy and fairness.

This commitment to responsible AI development ensures that remains at the forefront of global technological leadership while maintaining its dedication to human welfare.

Looking ahead, is set to become not only a global leader in AI but also a pioneer in futurism across all sectors. From healthcare to urban planning, the Kingdom’s investments in technology and innovation reflect a deep commitment to creating a sustainable, human-centric future.

’s commitment to education, talent development, and infrastructure is building a society that is not just technologically advanced but also equipped to lead in every aspect of futurism.

The nation’s rapid advancements in AI and sustainability are not just for its own benefit — they are a message to the world that technology, when guided by ethics and human-centered values, can create a brighter future for all.

Alhamdulillah, the Kingdom’s journey is just beginning, and its future, powered by AI and shaped by ethical principles, promises to be a source of inspiration for generations to come.

Dr. Maliha Hashmi is a global health leader, winner of the Forbes Health Leadership Award 2022, recipient of the World Leaders Award, one of the Top Seven Most Talented Female Health Leaders of the MENA region, a C-level healthcare executive, a WEF Global Future Council Expert, and a V2O Delegate of the G20.

 

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Press freedom under mounting threat in Europe, watchdog warns

Press freedom under mounting threat in Europe, watchdog warns
Updated 2 min 56 sec ago

Press freedom under mounting threat in Europe, watchdog warns

Press freedom under mounting threat in Europe, watchdog warns
  • A new report by European Centre for Press and Media Freedom found 709 cases of violations against journalists and media outlets between January and June

LONDON: Press freedom in Europe is under increasing pressure, with more than 700 violations recorded in the first six months of 2025, according to a new report by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.

The watchdog’s semi-annual Monitoring Report, published on Tuesday, found 709 cases of violations against journalists and media outlets between January and June, affecting 1,249 media professionals or entities across 36 countries, including EU member states and candidate nations.

The report, compiled using the Mapping Media Freedom database, found that journalists are operating in an “increasingly hostile environment,” facing not only physical assaults but also rising online abuse, smear campaigns, legal harassment, and political interference.

Online attacks remained the most common form of abuse, followed by threats and assaults during coverage of protests, and incidents in courtrooms and other public spaces.

While private individuals were the main perpetrators, accounting for 22 percent of recorded incidents, the report noted with concern that government and public officials were responsible for nearly as many attacks, at 21 percent.

Police and state security services were blamed for 12 percent of violations, underscoring a worrying trend of state-linked pressure on the press.

A particular focus of the report is the spread of so-called “foreign agent” laws and disinformation narratives targeting independent outlets.

These measures, which accuse media of being compromised by overseas funding, have been increasingly used to undermine journalists in countries such as Georgia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Slovakia.

The report warned that such rhetoric and legislation represented a “significant threat” to independent media across Europe.

Serbia emerged as one of the most concerning cases, with 96 violations recorded in the first half of the year. Amid mass anti-government protests and what the report described as a “violent state response,” journalists faced an unprecedented wave of intimidation.

This included alleged smear campaigns orchestrated by the government, assaults while covering demonstrations, as well as cases of editorial pressure and unjust dismissals.

The findings come at a time when press freedom in Europe is increasingly under the spotlight.

Although many European countries traditionally rank high in global press freedom indexes, the ECPMF warned that the scale and variety of attacks documented in 2025 show a deteriorating situation.

The organization urged European institutions and national governments to take stronger action to protect journalists and uphold media pluralism.

“From online harassment to restrictive laws, the threats facing Europe’s journalists are becoming more diverse and more dangerous,” the report said. “The findings of this report underline the urgent need for governments to create a safe environment for media professionals, free from intimidation, violence or political interference.”

The ECPMF will release a more detailed annual assessment at the end of 2025 but said its mid-year findings already highlighted a troubling trajectory for press freedom in the region.


Jordan hosts conference on counter-drone technology

Jordan hosts conference on counter-drone technology
Updated 4 min 8 sec ago

Jordan hosts conference on counter-drone technology

Jordan hosts conference on counter-drone technology
  • Organizer: ‘Timing reflects growing threats posed by unmanned systems regionally and globally’
  • Representatives from 41 countries in attendance

LONDON: Jordan is hosting a two-day conference that started on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in drone detection and interception technologies, ethical considerations and future challenges, Petra news agency reported.

The Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Middle East and Africa Conference in Amman gathers representatives from 41 countries, including those in Europe, North America and NATO.

The Jordan Design and Development Bureau organized the conference, whose agenda comprises more than 20 panel sessions featuring 25 speakers, including international experts, specialists and developers.

“The timing of the conference reflects the growing threats posed by unmanned systems regionally and globally,” said Ayman Batran, general director of the bureau.

The conference is supported by the Jordan Armed Forces and was inaugurated by Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The event is being attended by senior army officers, security officials, government representatives, ambassadors and international experts, Petra reported.


Pope eyes trip to Lebanon, Turkiye late November

Pope eyes trip to Lebanon, Turkiye late November
Updated 16 min 31 sec ago

Pope eyes trip to Lebanon, Turkiye late November

Pope eyes trip to Lebanon, Turkiye late November
  • Leo said in July that he hoped to visit the Turkish city Iznik for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea this year
  • Vatican sources said preparations were also underway for a visit to Lebanon during the same trip

VATICAN CITY: Preparations are underway for Pope Leo XIV to travel to Turkiye and Lebanon at the end of November in what would be his first trip abroad, Vatican sources told AFP.
The two-stage trip would likely last just under a week, AFP understands. The Vatican does not normally confirm official visits until closer to the time.
It would mark the first foreign trip for the US-born pontiff since he became head of the world’s Catholics in May.
Leo said in July that he hoped to visit the Turkish city Iznik for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea this year, a milestone in Church history.
A spokesman for the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, confirmed to AFP he has invited the pontiff to Istanbul for an event on November 29.
They would then travel to Iznik together for the anniversary of the first Nicaea council on November 30 — Saint Andrew’s Day.
Convened by the Emperor Constantine in 325 AD, the council was the first to bring together Christian bishops from across the Roman Empire.
It laid the foundations for the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith that intended to exclude certain so-called heresies.
The creed confirmed there was one God who exists in three parts — the Father, the Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit — which remains the cornerstone doctrine for most Christian denominations.
Vatican sources said preparations were also underway for a visit to Lebanon during the same trip.
Patriarch Beshara Rai, head of Lebanon’s Maronite church, said in a television interview in August that the pontiff would visit the country “by December.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is a Maronite Christian, extended the invitation while visiting the Vatican in June.
The last pope to visit multi-faith Lebanon was Benedict XVI in September 2012.
Pope Francis visited Turkiye in 2014 and had hoped to return for this year’s Nicaea commemorations, but canceled the trip due to ill-health.
The Argentine died on April 21 aged 88.


McLaughlin-Levrone threatening long-time world 400m record after breaking US time

McLaughlin-Levrone threatening long-time world 400m record after breaking US time
Updated 31 min 15 sec ago

McLaughlin-Levrone threatening long-time world 400m record after breaking US time

McLaughlin-Levrone threatening long-time world 400m record after breaking US time
  • McLaughlin-Levrone finished her 400-meter semifinal at the world championships Tuesday in 48.29 seconds
  • It was the fastest time of 2025, the seventh fastest time ever

TOKYO: One record down, and maybe one more to go for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
McLaughlin-Levrone finished her 400-meter semifinal at the world championships Tuesday in 48.29 seconds, shattering a 19-year-old American mark held by Sanya Richards-Ross by .41 seconds.
It was the fastest time of 2025, the seventh fastest time ever, and it makes the thought of breaking the 40-year-old record of 47.60 seem totally possible in the final Thursday.
“Honored, for sure,” McLaughlin-Levrone said about breaking the US record she’s been targeting since she moved over from the hurdles. “I definitely wasn’t expecting that time. It just shows the fitness is there. I’m excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman.”
Richards-Ross, the best American 400 runner of her generation, set the record of 48.70 in 2006 and won the 400 at the London Olympics six years later.
Now, all eyes are on the mark set by an East German, Marita Koch, in 1985. It is one of the few remaining records from the Eastern Bloc era. No woman has broken 48 seconds since Koch’s record, and even McLaughlin-Levrone said that should be the first goal before thinking about the mark.
But McLaughlin-Levrone has a knack for breaking records. She’s done it six times in her “main” event, the 400 hurdles, which she took a break from this year to see what she could do in the 400 flat. Her record in the hurdles stands at 50.37.
McLaughlin said that while she was surprised to see the 48.29 pop up on a sultry night in the same stadium where she won the hurdles — with a world-record time — four years ago in the Tokyo Olympics, “The last 30 meters were a little reserved.”
“But it wasn’t surprising because I know the work that has been put in. It’s really just about executing, and I’m grateful that it showed me it’s there.”
McLaughlin-Levrone, who trains with renowned coach Bobby Kersee, said she’s been working with a former UCLA runner Willington Wright to get her ready for the rigors of the world championships.
“He’s a quarter-miler who’s really strong, helping me with my fitness and simulating what those rounds are going to feel like,” she said. “He did a great job at that.”


’s Social Development Bank grants $1.73bn in financing by Q3 

’s Social Development Bank grants $1.73bn in financing by Q3 
Updated 45 min 37 sec ago

’s Social Development Bank grants $1.73bn in financing by Q3 

’s Social Development Bank grants $1.73bn in financing by Q3 

RIYADH: ’s Social Development Bank disbursed SR6.5 billion ($1.73 billion) in financing in the first nine months of 2025, benefiting over 90,000 citizens and enterprises, after extending SR8 billion in 2024. 

Of this, SR2.5 billion supported self-employed practitioners and productive families, reaching 53,000 beneficiaries — including 14,500 in the third quarter, the Saudi Press Agency reported.  

Strengthening small, medium, and emerging industries is a key goal of ’s Vision 2030, as the Kingdom works to diversify its economy and reduce its decades-long reliance on crude oil revenues. 

FASTFACTS

More than SR2.4 billion went to 7,300 small and emerging enterprises, with 2,400 of them financed in the third quarter alone. 

Social financing accounted for SR1.6 billion, benefitting 30,000 people, including 10,000 during the latest quarter. 

Quoting Ahmed Al-Rajhi, minister of human resources and social development and chairman of SDB, SPA stated that “the achievements reflect the effectiveness of the Bank’s strategic directions in empowering individuals and establishments, and providing an attractive labor market for local and global capabilities, in support of the national economy.” 

The report added that more than SR2.4 billion went to 7,300 small and emerging enterprises, with 2,400 of them financed in the third quarter alone. Social financing accounted for SR1.6 billion, benefitting 30,000 people, including 10,000 during the latest quarter. 

Sultan Al-Hamidi, CEO of SDB, said these achievements align with the support the bank receives from Saudi leadership to advance the Kingdom’s comprehensive development. 

He added that the institution will continue serving as a national development enabler through an integrated system of financing and non-financing solutions aimed at empowering entrepreneurs, fostering enterprise growth, and transforming ideas into sustainable projects. 

In December, SDB signed an agreement with Saudi National Bank to launch a financing portfolio to support entrepreneurship in the Kingdom. 

The portfolio, introduced under SNB’s Ahalina program, was set to provide SR10 million ($2.66 million) in funding to entrepreneurs, SPA reported at the time. 

Under the deal, SNB and SDB agreed to strengthen public-private cooperation to boost the Kingdom’s entrepreneurial landscape.