Smart Data & AI Summit Accelerates Saudi Arabia’s Rise as a Data and AI Hub

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On August 27–28, 2025, the JW Marriott Hotel in Riyadh will host the Smart Data & AI Summit, an event set to bring together more than 300 professionals in data and artificial intelligence. Attendees will include chief data officers, chief information officers, data scientists, AI directors, and other executives, all focused on evaluating new technologies, resolving technical challenges, and identifying opportunities in the fast-growing data sector.

The Kingdom’s public and private sectors—policymakers, regulators, and enterprise executives—stand to benefit from this gathering. Market analysts forecast that Saudi Arabia’s data analytics market will reach $8.8 billion by 2030, and the summit serves as a forum for government regulators and business leaders to align their efforts with the Vision 2030 strategy.

After a successful launch last year—opened by a senior official from the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA)—the 2025 edition plans to expand its scope and deliver an even more comprehensive program.

Key components of the summit include:

  • More than 25 solution providers showcasing the latest tools and services in data and AI.
  • Over 50 sector specialists presenting insights on trends, obstacles, and opportunities.
  • 300+ participants, among them data engineers, architects, AI pioneers, and decision-makers from leading national organizations.
  • One-on-one meetings designed to support collaboration and assess solutions created for specific requirements.
  • CPD-accredited sessions aimed at building skills and supporting career progression.

The agenda will address themes such as:

  • Management of open data within Saudi Arabia
  • AI fusion alongside machine learning advancements
  • Data virtualization and the rise of the data mesh concept
  • Ethical oversight of data governance and cybersecurity analytics
  • Unified cloud-based data architectures

Panel discussions and presentations will feature leaders from the Ministry of Hajj & Umrah, the Insurance Authority, the Council of Health Insurance, NEOM, AlNASSR Club Company under PIF, and Abdul Latif Jameel United Finance, who will address sector-specific use cases.

The Data Management Association (DAMA Saudi Arabia), the nation’s foremost community for data governance professionals, has been named a supporting partner. This move highlights DAMA’s emphasis on governance standards, ethical frameworks, and practical techniques for large-scale data handling. By contributing its members’ expertise and resources, DAMA will broaden the reach of discussions on best practices in data policy and architecture.

Abdulaziz Almanea, Founder & Chairman of DAMA Saudi, stressed that AI systems rely on trustworthy data, and that solid governance and ethical guidelines are essential for reliable outcomes. He added that maintaining data integrity is crucial for all AI development efforts. He said, “AI can only perform well when data quality, clear controls, and ethical standards are in place. As Saudi Arabia speeds up its shift toward data-driven operations, forums like this summit allow experts to establish responsible approaches to AI.”

Participants at the first summit lauded the high-caliber presentations, the depth of technical dialogue, and the networking opportunities. Nayef Al-Otaibi, Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Saudi Aramco, noted that the event was remarkably well organized and featured an outstanding speaker lineup. He commented, “It was rewarding to connect with peers during panel sessions, share experiences, and lay the groundwork for future collaboration in data and AI projects.”

This summit plays a key role in supporting the goals of Vision 2030. By uniting global experts, innovative solutions, and regional perspectives, it seeks to:

  • Speed up the nation’s full digital transformation.
  • Encourage fresh ideas and collaboration across industries.
  • Tackle regulatory challenges and ethical issues in data and AI.
  • Generate new prospects for investment and sector growth in data and AI.

Sudhir Ranjan Jena, CEO & Co-founder of Tradepass, the organizer, observed that data and AI are at a major turning point, driven by rapid technology advances and rising business demands. He said, “Our focus in this edition will center on integrating Vision 2030 objectives into data and AI practices, opening wide-ranging possibilities for participants, and exploring current methods and tools with the potential to influence Saudi Arabia’s economy after oil.”

The event’s program includes speakers such as:

  • Dr Ahmed Alzahrani — Director of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Centre, Ministry of Hajj & Umrah
  • Hajar Alolah — Director of Data Governance and Management Office, 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

These specialists will share perspectives on current trends, challenges, and prospects in data and AI, offering strategies that attendees can apply to support growth in their organizations.

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