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The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority hosted the Fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh from September 14 to 17 2026 where a joint statement with UNESCO and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics called for enhanced global cooperation on safe ethical and inclusive AI development. SDAIA President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi co-chaired a closed ministerial meeting attended by officials from around 60 countries that reaffirmed the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence as the foundational global framework. Participants stressed the need to bridge infrastructure gaps in developing countries while promoting skills development knowledge sharing and greater involvement of women and youth in AI governance.
Arab News reported on September 15 2026 that the kingdom exceeded its target by training more than one million people through the SAMAI initiative launched last year with ethical use and safety standards embedded across all modules. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi the CEO of SDAIA’s capacity building sector told Arab News that ethical AI forms a core element of every training program rather than appearing as a standalone subject. The curricula cover responsible data practices bias mitigation privacy compliance and prohibitions on uses such as fraud or violence to align with national regulatory requirements.
The National Strategy for Data and AI approved in 2020 under Vision 2030 organizes efforts across six pillars including policy and regulation to position the kingdom as a global leader in data-driven economies according to the SDAIA strategy document. SDAIA released the Principles and Controls of AI Ethics in 2023 followed by generative AI guidelines an adoption framework and the National Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework in April 2026. These instruments define seven core principles encompassing fairness privacy reliability transparency and accountability while introducing a four-tier risk classification system for organizations.
SDAIA has shifted from issuing non-binding principles toward concrete policies and legislation that support responsible innovation without impeding technological progress a spokesperson for the authority told Asharq Business. The kingdom established the International Center for AI Research and Ethics in Riyadh in 2022 which UNESCO subsequently designated as a category two center to advance research policy development and international collaboration on AI ethics. Officials have activated AI offices in 23 government entities to coordinate implementation and raise institutional readiness for managing high-risk applications.
The Ministry of Culture issued a sector-specific guide on September 14 2026 titled Ethics of Using Artificial Intelligence in the Cultural Sector that aligns with SDAIA frameworks and UNESCO recommendations while addressing 11 cultural domains. MarketsandMarkets projected the Saudi AI market will expand from 2.14 billion dollars in 2025 to 16.9 billion dollars by 2032 at a compound annual growth rate of 34.3 percent with generative AI registering the fastest increase. The Ministry of Commerce recorded a 240 percent rise in AI-related commercial registrations over the past five years reaching 19 638 entities as 2026 was designated the Year of Artificial Intelligence.
A joint ministerial statement issued during the Riyadh forum underscored the importance of protecting human rights cultural diversity and the safety of children in digital environments while fostering responsible innovation across borders. SDAIA continues to update its national AI index and ethical labeling system to evaluate compliance and encourage best practices among public and private entities. These measures form part of a coordinated effort to integrate ethical considerations into every stage of AI lifecycle management from design through deployment.
