DAVOS, Switzerland – The Saudi delegation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 unveiled a series of major initiatives aimed at tackling global environmental and technological challenges. Her Royal Highness Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States, announced that Saudi Arabia will host the first Global Coral Reef Summit in 2026. The event will bring together world leaders, scientists, and investors to address urgent threats to coral reef ecosystems, close policy and regulatory gaps, develop science-driven solutions, and unlock sustainable financing mechanisms to scale reef protection and restoration efforts. His Excellency Ahmed A. Alkhateeb, Minister of Tourism, emphasized the unifying power of tourism in a fragmented world. “Tourism brings peace at a time when it’s needed – connecting people and encouraging dialogue. Tourism growth is good for peace, it’s good for people, good for youth, and good for women,” he said. On the country’s ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, His Excellency Abdullah A. Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, highlighted progress under Saudi Vision 2030. “Saudi Vision 2030 was about economic diversification and empowering youth. Fast forward to today and we've achieved 56% non-oil contribution to GDP, and in terms of talent and youth, our tech force has increased dramatically,” he noted. Earlier in the day, HUMAIN and the National Infrastructure Fund (Infra) announced a Strategic Financing Framework Agreement worth up to $1.2 billion to support the expansion of AI and digital infrastructure in the Kingdom. The agreement outlines non-binding terms for HUMAIN to develop up to 250 MW of hyperscale AI data center capacity, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for advanced computing. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 Presidency launched the Business4Land (B4L) Champions’ Council, a high-level coalition of CEOs, sustainability leaders, investors, and policymakers committed to accelerating land restoration, combating land degradation, and enhancing drought resilience. In collaboration with the WEF, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) introduced the Lighthouse Operating System – a country-level framework designed to drive transformation in the manufacturing sector. Developed with WEF’s Advanced Manufacturing and Production Centre (AMPC), the initiative aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy, strengthen non-oil industries, and establish Saudi Arabia as a global center for advanced manufacturing and logistics. MIM and WEF also signed a cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum, held the week before the WEF Annual Meeting. The agreement, valid until September 2027, focuses on building strategic partnerships around critical minerals essential for clean energy and emerging technologies. It aims to ensure resilient, sustainable, and responsibly sourced mineral supply chains aligned with national industrial goals and the global energy transition. The initiative will be overseen by a joint executive committee comprising representatives from the ministry and WEF.