The Global AI Show Riyadh, held from 29-30 June 2026, has cemented its status as a definitive anchor for the Kingdom's newly designated "Year of Artificial Intelligence." Organized by VAP Group and powered by Times Of AI, the event attracted 15,000+ registrations, welcomed 6,723 attendees, featured 100+ global speakers and 100 exhibitors, and convened a 70% CXO-level delegation from 80+ countries. The unprecedented international participation reinforced Saudi Arabia's growing role as a global AI powerhouse while marking a decisive shift from experimental AI pilots to centralized, nation-scale AI deployment.
The event highlighted the "Human-AI Interaction" framework, with keynote tracks focusing on workforce planning, AI-driven recruitment, and upskilling programs designed to equip the next generation of Saudi talent with tools to steer autonomous digital agents. Day 1 featured an opening keynote by Dr Mohammed Nasser Alshahrani, Executive Advisor to the Minister, Council of Economic and Development Affairs, on why data quality will define winners in the AI era. Day 2 opened with a keynote by Nezar Al Turki, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of National Guard, outlining the shift from digital transformation to AI transformation.
The summit explored agentic AI, sovereign AI infrastructure, enterprise AI transformation, responsible governance, AI-powered healthcare, financial services innovation, cybersecurity, workforce development, and the future of human-AI collaboration. Michael Lints, Founding Partner MENA, Golden Gate Ventures, remarked: "The AI era is reshaping venture capital. Today's founders need more than funding, they need access to infrastructure, strategic partnerships and global networks."
A major announcement was the launch of VAP Ventures, a strategic initiative to back 100 startups by 2030 and accelerate the next chapter of the global innovation ecosystem. Vishal Parmar, Founder & CEO of VAP Group, stated: "What we've built with the Global AI Show goes far beyond a conference into a catalyst for global innovation. VAP Ventures is the natural next step in that journey, empowering founders who will shape the future of global innovation."
The momentum will carry forward to the next Global AI Show set for Abu Dhabi on 12-13 November 2026, providing a window for discussions at Riyadh to materialize into tangible outcomes.
