Saudi Arabia to Host Its First Global Smart City Forum
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first Global Smart City Forum is set to be held by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in Riyadh from the 12th to the 13th of February. The forum will be held in Arena Riyadh Venue for Exhibitions and will feature 80 speakers from more than 40 countries.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, SDAIA President Dr Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi said that the global forum will highlight the ideas and importance of smart cities, as well as ways in which AI technologies can be used to build them. He further mentioned that many countries around the world have been using AI as a way of improving their citizen’s lives, acknowledging the rapid advancement of these technologies.
He mentioned that the Kingdom has shown interest in coordinating this forum which aligns with the support and guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SDAIA.
He further focused on the crucial role of SDAIA as the national reference for data and AI organization, development, and operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It is expected that the forum will include dialogue sessions relating to the future of smart cities, possible challenges associated with their infrastructure, and innovative solutions to the needs of the growing population in cities worldwide.
The forum will display the progress achieved by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries in building smart cities that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. The Kingdom’s initiatives in this context align with the Saudi Vision 2030.
The goal of the forum is to host more than 18,000 visitors, both physically and virtually, establishing a global platform for smart cities that unifies experts in the field from all over the world.
Various subjects will be addressed, such as global cities, the future of urban mobility, smart public services, eco-friendly city planning in the next century, data-driven smart cities, and advanced innovation, according to the Saudi Arabia Press.
