Saudi Arabia Positions Itself as a Connector Economy Amid Shifting Global Trade at WEF 2026
Photo Credit: Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning/AETOSWire
DAVOS, Switzerland, January 23, 2026 (FINANCE INTERVIEWS) — Saudi Arabian officials used appearances at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting this week to outline the Kingdom’s economic strategy as global trade, technology, and tourism patterns continue to evolve, according to statements made during multiple forum sessions.
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Speaking during a panel on global trade, Minister of Commerce Majid A. Alkassabi said changes in supply chains and trade governance could strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role as a logistics and connectivity hub linking multiple regions.
“Trade today is definitely shifting from fair trade to a managed and rule-driven trade model. For us in Saudi Arabia, we have a strategic location, we have a lot of resources, we could become a bridge economy. We could become a connector economy where we can connect with Africa, with Europe, with Asia, becoming a logistic hub,” said Alkassabi.
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Tourism Minister Ahmed A. Alkhateeb addressed projected growth in global travel during a separate session focused on destination development, citing forecasts that could support continued investment in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.
“UN Tourism is projecting the number of tourists to grow to 2 billion by 2030, which means adding 500 million. This is a lot, and this is very encouraging for Saudi Arabia – for its hotel operators, investors, technology providers. This is an industry of amazing potential,” said Alkhateeb.
Finance Minister Mohammed A. Aljadaan said economic policy efforts are centered on maintaining stability and predictability for businesses operating in the Kingdom.
“Our role as policymakers is to ensure that a predictable environment is provided for businesses, and we are doing so by strengthening the resilience of our economy and giving the private sector the confidence it needs,” said Aljadaan.
In discussions focused on emerging technologies, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah A. Alswaha highlighted Saudi Arabia’s approach to artificial intelligence infrastructure and adoption.
“In AI, the Kingdom is tackling the energy wall and the memory wall. We’re issuing a call to our partners, that in the Intelligence Age, you need a partner that can accelerate AI, but more critically adopt AI; and the Kingdom stands as your partner of choice,” said Alswaha.
Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar I. Alkhorayef emphasized the Kingdom’s role in fostering international cooperation within the global minerals sector.
“The Kingdom adopts a multilateral approach to international cooperation, creating platforms that enable dialogue and partnership. The Future Minerals Forum stands at the forefront, now a global convening platform uniting governments, industry, finance, academia, and technology leaders,” said Alkhorayef.
Economy and Planning Minister Faisal F. Alibrahim said economic partnerships and dialogue remain central to long-term growth strategies.
“I believe there is a world where every country can unlock its economic potential and still keep dialogue open. There has never been a more blank canvas or a wider opportunity for us to design the future,” said Alibrahim.
Separately, officials announced the launch of the Saudi–U.S. Innovation Partnership, a joint initiative between Saudi HoldCo and GoldenPoint Global aimed at advancing collaboration in life sciences, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. The platform will be anchored in Riyadh and Austin.
In addition, Amplifai Health was named a recipient in the second cohort of the World Economic Forum’s MINDS – AI Global Alliance initiative.
For more information, visit www.weforum.org.
Source: Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning
