Saudi Arabia's Smart Data & AI Summit: Paving the Way for Digital Innovation
Saudi Arabia is on the fast track towards establishing itself as a global innovator in the realm of digital technology, and the upcoming Smart Data & AI Summit is a keystone event that will significantly influence the nation’s data and AI ecosystem. Scheduled for May 5-6, 2025, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Riyadh, this summit will gather over 300 professionals from data and AI fields, including CDOs, CIOs, data scientists, and other C-suite executives. They'll come together to examine the latest advancements, confront prevailing challenges, and seize emerging opportunities within the data and AI landscape.
The Kingdom’s data analytics market is anticipated to hit $8.8 billion by 2030, and this summit serves as a timely platform for collaboration between leaders from both public and private sectors to align their efforts with the ambitious Vision 2030 goals set forth by the nation.
Innovation Meets Collaboration
Built on the success of last year's inaugural summit, which was launched by a prominent figure from the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), the 2025 event is poised to be even larger and more impactful. Attendees can expect to see:
- 25+ cutting-edge solution providers: showcasing the latest innovations in AI and data.
- 50+ industry experts: sharing insights into emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities.
- 300+ participants: including data engineers, architects, AI innovators, and decision-makers from some of Saudi Arabia's largest enterprises.
- 1:1 meetings: designed to facilitate collaboration and assess tailored solutions.
- Accredited sessions: to enhance professional development and skillsets.
Charting the Future of Data and AI
The summit agenda will focus on key issues that are sculpting the trajectory of data and AI, such as:
- Open Data Navigation: Examining the opportunities and challenges in Saudi Arabia.
- AI Integration and ML Innovations: The future of machine learning technologies.
- Data Virtualization: Harnessing the power of data mesh concepts.
- Ethical Data Governance: Understanding cybersecurity analytics in contemporary data practices.
- Unified Data Cloud Architectures: Exploring cloud solutions across industries.
Discussions will be spearheaded by thought leaders from prestigious institutions in the Kingdom, including NEOM, the Ministry of Hajj & Umrah, and the Council of Health Insurance.
Partnership for Enhanced Data Management
Joining as a supporting partner is the Data Management Association (DAMA Saudi Arabia), the foremost community for data management in the Kingdom. Their role highlights a commitment to nurturing a robust data management ecosystem, aligned with the goals of the summit to place Saudi Arabia at the forefront of data and AI initiatives.
Abdulaziz Almanea, Founder & Chairman of DAMA Saudi, emphasized the summit's significance by stating, "Artificial intelligence is only as good as the data behind it. Quality, governance, and ethics must come first to ensure trust, accuracy, and impact." He believes that events like this summit are essential for shaping the future of AI through responsible data practices.
A Proven Track Record
The initial iteration of the Smart Data & AI Summit established a high bar, with attendees praising the quality of the discussions and networking opportunities. Nayef Al-Otaibi, VP & Chief Digital Officer at Saudi Aramco, remarked on the excellent management and speaker quality, which significantly exceeded expectations and fostered valuable exchanges among industry experts.
Advancing Vision 2030
The Smart Data & AI Summit is strategically aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, aiming to:
- Accelerate the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
- Encourage innovation and cooperation across sectors.
- Address regulatory and ethical challenges in data and AI.
- Create new avenues for investment and growth within the Kingdom's data and AI sectors.
Sudhir Ranjan Jena, CEO & Co-founder of Tradepass, the organization behind the summit, noted that the data and AI sector is entering a dynamic new chapter fueled by technological disruptions and expanding digital platforms. This next edition aims to delve deeper into Vision 2030 and illuminate emerging trends and solutions crucial for steering the Kingdom's post-oil economy.
Noteworthy Speaker Lineup
Attendees can expect to hear from a distinguished roster of speakers including:
- Dr. Ahmed Alzahrani – Director of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Centre, Ministry of Hajj & Umrah
- Hajar Alolah – Data Governance and Management Office Director, Saudi Development Bank
- Abdullah AlBar – Chief Data Officer, Abdul Latif Jameel United Finance
- Usamah Algemili – Chief Data Executive, Insurance Authority
- Jawad Saleemi – Director of AI & Cloud, Telenor
- Abbasi Poonawala – Executive Director of Enterprise Architecture, Alinma Bank
- Nawaf Alghamdi – Director of Data Analytics & AI, Council of Health Insurance
This summit promises a wealth of insights on the latest trends and practical strategies for fostering innovation and growth in a data-driven landscape.
For further details and updates, visit Smart Data Summit's official site.
