Saudi Arabia Highlights Human Capital as Cornerstone of Sustainable Growth at WEF 2026
Senior Saudi officials and ministers convened at Saudi House during the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting to present the Kingdom’s major economic achievements and outline its future-focused development strategy. Central to the discussions was Saudi Arabia’s long-term commitment to investing in human capital as the primary driver of sustainable and competitive economic growth.
Human Capital at the Heart of Future Competitiveness
Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, stressed that sustained investment in people is vital for economic competitiveness. She highlighted the importance of empowerment and placing leaders strategically. According to her, performance improves when people are trusted with responsibility and positioned effectively. She concluded that Saudi Arabia has both the right environment and the talent—and that the time to act is now.
Tourism Strategy Exceeds Vision 2030 Targets
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the exceptional performance of the tourism sector, revealing that the Vision 2030 target of 100 million annual visitors was reached seven years ahead of schedule. Since achieving this milestone in 2023, tourism has continued to grow steadily, with consistent increases in visitor numbers and overall spending.
Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih outlined the Kingdom’s rapid economic expansion, noting that foreign direct investment has increased fivefold since the launch of Vision 2030, while domestic investment has doubled. He added that Saudi Arabia now ranks among leading global economies in terms of gross capital formation as a share of GDP.
Fiscal Discipline, Credible Transformation
Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan described Vision 2030 as a clear and credible roadmap for national transformation. He stressed that ambitious visions must be supported by consistent implementation and transparent reporting, which are critical to maintaining public confidence and ensuring long-term success.
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s competitive edge lies in its youthful population and rich natural resources. He also noted that youth represent the world’s most valuable resource and that transforming raw materials into high-value outputs depends fundamentally on investing in human talent.
Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim highlighted the Kingdom’s shift toward a more resilient and sustainable economic model. He pointed out that the private sector now plays a co-leading role in growth, while innovation and research and development account for an increasing share of economic activity as Saudi Arabia deepens its global integration.
SUSTAIN Platform
The Ministry of Economy and Planning announced the upcoming beta launch of the SUSTAIN Platform in 2026 during a NextOn talk at Saudi House. Developed in collaboration with WEF and Bain & Company, SUSTAIN is an AI-powered partnership network designed to enhance cross-sector collaboration and accelerate sustainable development initiatives.
Quality of Life, Urban Development
The Quality of Life Program Center, in partnership with UN-Habitat, revealed the outcomes of the Quality of Life Initiative—a global platform that promotes people-centered urban development and livable cities worldwide.
SDM also announced a new partnership with Cornell University titled “Frontier Science for Human Health: A Saudi–US Space Research Collaboration.” Finally, the initiative aims to advance space science and computational biology technologies, with a focus on space research and human health missions.
Related Topics:
ROSHN Signs Promising Agreement with World Economic Forum
Saudi Arabia to Host World Economic Forum Special Meeting
Saudi Participates in World Economic Forum to Strengthen Int’nal Partnerships
