The Global AI Show Riyadh, held from 29-30 June 2026, has cemented its status as a definitive anchor for the Kingdom's newly designated 'Year of Artificial Intelligence.' Organized by VAP Group and powered by Times Of AI, the event attracted 15,000+ registrations, 6,723 attendees, 100+ global speakers, and 100 exhibitors, with a 70% CXO-level delegation from 80+ countries. Co-located with the Global Blockchain Show Riyadh and Global Games Show Riyadh, the summit marked a decisive shift from experimental AI pilots to centralized, nation-scale AI deployment, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's role as a global AI powerhouse.
Keynote tracks focused on the 'Human-AI Interaction' framework, workforce planning, AI-driven recruitment, and upskilling programs. Dr. Mohammed Nasser Alshahrani, Executive Advisor to the Minister, Council of Economic and Development Affairs, opened the first day with a keynote on data quality defining winners in the AI era. Nezar Al Turki, Chief Information Officer of the Ministry of National Guard, opened Day 2 by outlining the shift from digital transformation to AI transformation and the foundations required to scale AI-driven enterprises.
Vishal Parmar, Founder and CEO of VAP Group, announced the launch of VAP Ventures, a strategic initiative to back 100 startups by 2030, saying, 'What we’ve built with the Global AI Show goes far beyond a conference into a catalyst for global innovation. VAP Ventures is the natural next step in that journey, empowering founders who will shape the future of global innovation.'
Sessions explored agentic AI, sovereign AI infrastructure, enterprise AI transformation, responsible governance, AI-powered healthcare, financial services innovation, cybersecurity, and workforce development. Michael Lints, Founding Partner MENA of Golden Gate Ventures, noted, 'The AI era is reshaping venture capital. Today's founders need more than funding, they need access to infrastructure, strategic partnerships and global networks that help them move from breakthrough ideas to scalable businesses faster than ever before!'
The event highlighted AI as a key driver of innovation across industries, from generating reports to optimizing workflows in critical areas like healthcare. Discussions examined scalable AI deployment, investment opportunities, digital public infrastructure, and the role of AI in accelerating Saudi Vision 2030 while strengthening cross-border innovation. The momentum will carry forward to the next Global AI Show in Abu Dhabi on 12-13 November 2026, providing a window for discussions to materialize into tangible outcomes.
About the Global AI Show: Hosted by VAP Group, it is a premier AI summit uniting global CXOs, policymakers, and tech pioneers to address real-world AI impact. VAP Group, with 13+ years of expertise, is a global consulting and media powerhouse driving technology-led growth through events like the Global AI Show, Global Games Show, and Global Blockchain Show. For more information, visit the original release on NewMediaWire.
