Introduction to Smart Data & AI Summit
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its journey toward becoming a global leader in digital innovation, the Smart Data & AI Summit will play a pivotal role in shaping the Kingdom’s data and AI landscape. Scheduled for 5 – 6 May 2025 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Riyadh, this event will bring together 300+ data and AI professionals, including CDOs, CIOs, data scientists, AI directors, C-suite executives and many others, to explore the latest advances, tackle challenges, and unlock opportunities in data and artificial intelligence.
The Importance of the Summit
With the Kingdom’s data analytics market projected to reach $8.8 billion by 2030, the summit comes at an important time, offering a platform for public and private sector leaders to collaborate, innovate, and approach the nation’s Vision 2030 goals. Building on the success of its debut last year, which was inaugurated by a leading official from the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), the 2025 edition promises to be bigger and more impactful.
A Platform for Innovation and Collaboration
The summit will feature:
- 25+ cutting-edge solution providers showcasing the latest technologies in data and AI.
- 50+ industry experts sharing insights on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities.
- 300+ attendees, including data engineers, architects, AI pioneers, and decision-makers from Saudi Arabia’s largest organisations.
- 1:1 meetings to foster collaboration and evaluate tailored solutions.
- CPD-accredited sessions to help professionals enhance their skills and advance their careers.
Unveiling the Future of Data and AI
The summit’s agenda will look at important topics shaping the future of data and AI, including:
- Navigating open data in Saudi Arabia
- AI fusion and machine learning innovations
- Data virtualisation and the power of data mesh
- Ethical data governance and cybersecurity analytics
- Unified data cloud architectures
Discussions will be led by thought leaders from the Kingdom’s top organisations, including Ministry of Hajj & Umrah, Insurance Authority, Council of Health Insurance, NEOM, AlNASSR Club Company | PIF, and Abdul Latif Jameel United Finance.
Partnership with DAMA Saudi Arabia
The Data Management Association (DAMA Saudi Arabia), the Kingdom’s largest data management community, has joined the summit as a supporting partner. The partnership underscores DAMA’s commitment to fostering a robust data management ecosystem and aligns with the summit’s mission to elevate Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in data and AI.
A Legacy of Excellence
The inaugural edition of the summit set a high benchmark, with attendees praising the quality of speakers, depth of discussions, and opportunities for networking and collaboration. Nayef Al-Otaibi, VP & Chief Digital Officer at Saudi Aramco, said, “The event was well-managed, the coordination was excellent, and the quality of the speakers was above expectations. It was a beautiful experience connecting with industry experts during the panel discussions and sharing our experiences. This could basically help us establish the platform and collaborate and work together in future.”
Driving Vision 2030 Forward
The Smart Data & AI Summit is a strategic initiative to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. By bringing together global expertise, cutting-edge technologies, and local insights, the summit aims to:
- Accelerate the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
- Foster innovation and collaboration across industries.
- Address regulatory challenges and ethical considerations in data and AI.
- Unlock new opportunities for investment and growth in the Kingdom’s data and AI sectors.
High-Impact Speaker Lineup
The summit will feature an impressive 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 – AI & Cloud, Telenor
- Abbasi Poonawala – Executive Director – Enterprise Architecture, Alinma Bank
- Nawaf Alghamdi – Director – Data Analytics & AI, Council of Health Insurance
Conclusion
The Smart Data & AI Summit is a must-attend event for data and AI professionals in Saudi Arabia. With its impressive lineup of speakers, cutting-edge solution providers, and opportunities for collaboration and networking, the summit is poised to shape the Kingdom’s data and AI landscape and drive innovation and growth in the region.
FAQs
- What is the Smart Data & AI Summit?
The Smart Data & AI Summit is a two-day event that brings together data and AI professionals to explore the latest advances, tackle challenges, and unlock opportunities in data and artificial intelligence. - When and where will the summit take place?
The summit will take place on 5-6 May 2025 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Riyadh. - Who will be speaking at the summit?
The summit will feature an impressive roster of speakers, including Dr Ahmed Alzahrani, Hajar Alolah, Abdullah AlBar, Usamah Algemili, Jawad Saleemi, Abbasi Poonawala, and Nawaf Alghamdi. - What topics will be covered at the summit?
The summit will cover topics such as navigating open data in Saudi Arabia, AI fusion and machine learning innovations, data virtualisation and the power of data mesh, ethical data governance and cybersecurity analytics, and unified data cloud architectures. - How can I register for the summit?
You can register for the summit by visiting the official website: https://saudi.smartdataseries.com/
