The Future of AI in Saudi Arabia: Innovation, Trust, and Partnership
Saudi Arabia
Session 494
Saudi Arabia has made substantial progress in AI infrastructure, governance, talent development, and international engagement, positioning the Kingdom as an emerging global hub for artificial intelligence.
This presentation-style session brings together Saudi entities representing key pillars of the Kingdom's AI ecosystem. The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) leads the Kingdom's national AI strategy and governance efforts. Prince Sultan University (PSU) represents the academic pillar, using its higher education ecosystem as a case study to demonstrate how universities advance AI through education, research, innovation, sustainability, and global engagement. Together, they demonstrate how Saudi Arabia is positioning AI as a national priority across strategy, governance, talent development, research, and real-world applications.
Dr. Tahira Hoke serves as Vice Dean of Quality Assurance and Development, Aide to the President, and Director of Evaluation and Academic Accreditation at Prince Sultan University. She is also a Sustainability Fellow at PSU’s Center for Sustainability and Climate Change.
She holds degrees in psychology from UCLA and Claremont Graduate University and brings extensive experience as a senior researcher and evaluator in the U.S. nonprofit sector.
At PSU, Dr. Hoke has led and coordinated successful institutional and program reviews with major accreditation bodies, including NCAAA, AACSB, ABET, and HCERES. She has also served as a reviewer for the Commission for Academic Accreditation and Cognia International. In addition to her leadership roles, she teaches in the College of Science and Humanities and is a faculty member and researcher in the Robotics and Internet of Things Lab (RIOTU). Her research interests focus on artificial intelligence in education, sustainability, accreditation, quality assurance, and motivation.
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C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C2. Information and communication infrastructure
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C4. Capacity building
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C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
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C6. Enabling environment
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-health
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-environment
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-agriculture
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-science
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C11. International and regional cooperation
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Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
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Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
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Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
- Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
- Objective 2: Expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all
- Objective 4: Advance responsible, equitable and interoperable data governance approaches
- Objective 5: Enhance international governance of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity