Global AI Show 2026 heads to Riyadh

Saudi Arabia has made artificial intelligence a visible part of its economic plans. Global AI Show 2026, organized by VAP Group and powered by Times of AI, will bring that discussion to Riyadh, where executives, policymakers, and researchers are set to examine how AI is being applied in practice.

Looking past keynote rhetoric

Conference agendas often give the most space to headline speakers, while the more technical and operational material gets less attention. GAIS appears to put more weight on implementation, with sessions on AI strategy, machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics.

Saudi Arabia’s broader policy direction makes that agenda relevant. Under Vision 2030, technology adoption is tied to the country’s economic diversification push. For companies assessing where AI fits into operations, products, or internal workflows, the event offers a chance to compare approaches and see how others are handling similar decisions.

Regulation and responsible use

The program also includes sessions on algorithmic fairness, data privacy, and regulatory frameworks.

This comes at a time when AI governance is becoming more active across the Gulf and other markets. For businesses still working out how deployment and compliance intersect, the combination of policy and technical discussion may be one of the more useful parts of the event.

A cross-sector speaker mix

Previous editions featured speakers from government, healthcare, and technology, including Alberta Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish, Medical Realities CEO Professor Shafi Ahmed, and SingularityNET COO Janet Adams.

The speaker list points to a broader trend in how AI is being discussed. The topic now cuts across public institutions, private companies, and applied research rather than sitting inside one industry alone.

Networking built into the format

The event will also include dedicated areas for partnership, investment, and business meetings, instead of leaving networking to breaks between sessions.

For companies looking for regional partners, AI vendors, or investment opportunities, that part of the format may matter as much as the session lineup itself.

Global AI Show 2026 will take place in Riyadh.

More information: globalaishow.com/riyadh