Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Host Special Meeting in Riyadh after Successful Conclusion of WEF

Riyadh - A high-level delegation representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has successfully concluded its participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024, culminating in an exciting announcement that Riyadh will be hosting a WEF Special Meeting on global cooperation, growth, and energy. Scheduled to take place on 28-29 April 2024, the meeting aims to bring together global leaders from various sectors to foster dialogues that will drive international collaboration.

From 15-19 January, the Saudi delegation, expertly led by His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, actively participated in critical dialogues, bilateral meetings, and multilateral sessions at the WEF Annual Meeting 2024. Their collective efforts were focused on shaping solutions to global challenges, laying the groundwork for a more connected, resilient, and prosperous future.

The esteemed delegation included notable figures such as Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar AlSaud, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the United States of America, as well as His Excellency Dr. Majid A. Alkassabi, Minister of Commerce, and His Excellency Adel A. Aljubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, among others.

Throughout the event, the Saudi delegation actively participated in several engaging sessions, covering diverse topics such as securing an insecure world, frictionless services, bold steps for a sustainable Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and the future of banking and technology in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a noteworthy panel session centered around "Saudi Arabia: The Course Ahead," highlighting the Kingdom's commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East.

Moreover, the delegation launched the Saudi House: Bold Visions Series, gathering change-makers, policymakers, and innovators to engage in dialogues that fostered economic development in key areas such as the blue economy, tourism, and technology investments.

The announcement of Riyadh hosting the upcoming WEF Special Meeting is an integral part of a significant agreement between Saudi Arabia and the World Economic Forum. The designated meeting aims to bring together more than 700 global leaders from the public and private sectors, international organizations, NGOs, academia, and civil society to facilitate dialogues and revitalize international cooperation on a global scale.

In addition to this exciting news, Saudi Arabia signed two agreements with WEF's innovation platform UpLink during the Annual Meeting. These agreements aim to spur innovation ecosystems and support early-stage impact entrepreneurs who offer breakthrough solutions to address pressing environmental and sustainability challenges, including ocean degradation, biodiversity loss, and the circular carbon economy.

Furthermore, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to strengthen cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The MOU focuses on a wide range of public policy initiatives, covering areas such as the economy, corporate governance, and sustainability.

The successful participation of the Saudi delegation in WEF AM 2024 and the subsequent announcement of hosting the special meeting in Riyadh underline the Kingdom's commitment to actively contributing to global dialogue and advancing cooperation in key areas of global significance