The Global AI Show Riyadh, held from 29-30 June 2026, has cemented its status as the definitive anchor for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia'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 underscored 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 summit, co-located with Global Blockchain Show Riyadh and Global Games Show Riyadh, highlighted the "Human-AI Interaction" framework. Keynote tracks focused 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. The event also witnessed the announcement of VAP Ventures, a strategic initiative to back 100 startups by 2030 and accelerate the global innovation ecosystem.
Day one featured an opening keynote by Dr. Mohammed Nasser Alshahrani, Executive Advisor to the Minister, Council of Economic and Development Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who discussed why data quality will define the winners of the AI era and how trustworthy, transparent AI systems can drive real-world impact. Day two opened with a keynote by Nezar Al Turki, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of National Guard, who outlined the shift from digital transformation to AI transformation and the leadership, governance, and workforce foundations required to scale AI-driven enterprises.
The two-day summit explored the next frontier of artificial intelligence through discussions on 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 that help them move from breakthrough ideas to scalable businesses faster than ever before!"
The sessions also examined scalable AI deployment, investment opportunities, digital public infrastructure, intelligent automation, and the role of AI in accelerating Saudi Vision 2030 while strengthening cross-border innovation and economic collaboration. As a forward-looking platform, the Global AI Show served as an example of how to create an environment for collaboration, constructive dialogue, and ultimately action, connecting the newest technologies with large-scale, real-world applications across multiple sectors and government entities.
"What we've built with the Global AI Show goes far beyond a conference into a catalyst for global innovation," said Vishal Parmar, Founder & CEO, VAP Group. "Seeing thousands of innovators, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs come together in Riyadh has been incredibly inspiring. Our vision has always been to create a platform where conversations lead to collaboration and collaboration leads to action. VAP Ventures is the natural next step in that journey, empowering founders who will shape the future of global innovation."
The momentum established at this summit 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. The event reinforced that AI is no longer an afterthought but a key driver of innovation, transforming industries from healthcare to finance and optimizing workflows across critical areas.
