Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Eng. Abdullah Alswaha met with Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Doreen Bogdan-Martin, in the presence of Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Eng. Haitham AlOhaly, on the sidelines of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Doha, Qatar.
 The meeting focused on strengthening the longstanding partnership between Saudi Arabia and the ITU, spanning more than 77 years, and expanding cooperation in connectivity, space, and sixth-generation (6G) technologies. Discussions also explored ways to enable countries worldwide to benefit from the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI), reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a trusted partner in advancing international efforts to build an inclusive digital future, harness technology for the benefit of humanity, and achieve sustainable development.
 

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha affirmed that, under the leadership of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia continues to work with its international partners to strengthen connectivity, expand access to technology and artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities for all, and leverage its energy and computing capabilities to build a more inclusive digital and AI-powered future.
 Speaking at the Ministerial Roundtable in Doha, as part of Saudi Arabia’s participation in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference, Alswaha reaffirmed the Kingdom’s full support for the Doha Declaration. He called for expanding international partnerships beyond connectivity to include access to computing capabilities, ensuring broader participation in the AI era.
 Alswaha highlighted the global progress made over the past four years in expanding connectivity, noting that the number of people without internet access has declined from 2.6 billion to 2 billion. He emphasized the importance of building on this progress through international efforts to bridge the gap in access to AI and the opportunities it offers.
 The minister explained that the concentration of approximately 90% of the computing capacity required to develop and operate advanced AI models in just two countries underscores the need for international partnerships that broaden access to these capabilities and enable more countries to participate in the AI-driven economy.
 Alswaha cautioned that digital inequality could re-emerge in an even more pronounced form in the AI era, shifting from a connectivity gap that excludes nearly a quarter of the world’s population to the risk of excluding the majority from opportunities to contribute to AI development and benefit from its potential.
 He noted that Saudi Arabia, alongside its partners and the ITU, has helped mobilize $100 billion through the Partner2Connect initiative, contributing to efforts to narrow the digital divide. He called for building on these achievements and moving from “Partner2Connect” to “Partner2Compute” to expand access to the computing capabilities needed to develop AI and benefit from its applications.
 Alswaha emphasized that Saudi Arabia is leveraging its position as a global energy partner to support the AI era by allocating land, computing capacity, and energy resources, helping expand opportunities for all and ensuring that no one is left behind.
 On women’s empowerment, Alswaha highlighted Saudi Arabia’s partnership with the ITU through the EQUALS program and the progress achieved in empowering women across technology and digital fields. He also underscored the Kingdom’s achievements in advancing women’s participation in technology and AI, noting that Saudi Arabia recorded the highest proportion of women among leading AI researchers and innovators across the countries included in the comparative analysis of Stanford University’s 2026 AI Index Report.
 Alswaha concluded by reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continued collaboration with the international community to align efforts, strengthen connectivity, and build a better future for all in an increasingly digital and intelligent world.
 

The AgentX AI Hackathon for Employment and Business Solutions has launched in Riyadh in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The event aims to empower national talent to develop innovative AI-based solutions, align technical skills with labor market needs, and support innovation and business efficiency across various sectors.
 The hackathon brings together innovators, developers, and artificial intelligence enthusiasts who work in multidisciplinary teams to turn their ideas into prototypes of smart solutions tailored to the needs of different industries. The event also provides opportunities to engage with experts and specialists and explore career prospects in promising technology fields.
 The hackathon focuses on applying AI technologies to develop practical solutions that enhance operational efficiency, improve service quality, and increase productivity. It also encourages innovation and supports the development of scalable technological applications.
 The hackathon includes a virtual boot camp, specialized workshops, and mentoring sessions. These activities culminate in an in-person phase during which participants develop their projects and present their solutions to a panel of judges. The program is designed to strengthen participants' practical AI skills and provide hands-on experience in developing business solutions and turning ideas into innovative projects.
 The hackathon builds on the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's efforts to develop national digital capabilities, empower technology talent, and align skills with labor market needs. These efforts support the growth of the digital economy and strengthen the Kingdom's competitiveness in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.