Saudi Arabia’s data and artificial intelligence authority has opened a week of talks with the World Bank in Belgium and Germany, using a 25-session programme to press its case for deeper international alignment on data governance and responsible AI.The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, known as SDAIA, is holding the specialised meetings from June 8 to 12 with policymakers, technical experts, international organisations and institutions involved in regulating and deploying artificial intelligence. The agenda is centred on global best practice, cross-border cooperation and the governance systems needed as AI moves deeper into public services, finance, health, education and transport.
The programme gives Riyadh a platform to present its national model for data and AI governance while studying European regulatory approaches at close range. Belgium, home to key European Union institutions, offers direct exposure to one of the world’s most advanced AI rule-making environments, while Germany brings experience from a highly industrialised economy where automation, data protection and digital regulation intersect across manufacturing, research and public administration.
The World Bank partnership gives the initiative a wider development dimension. The lender has been expanding its work on data infrastructure, cloud capacity, digital public services and AI foundations, particularly for governments seeking to modernise institutions while avoiding risks linked to privacy, exclusion, weak oversight and opaque algorithmic decision-making.
The timing is significant. Governments are moving from broad AI principles towards enforceable rules, compliance systems and technical standards. The European Union’s AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024, has become a reference point for countries trying to balance innovation with risk controls. Its phased obligations cover areas such as prohibited practices, transparency, general-purpose AI and high-risk systems, although the implementation calendar continues to face pressure from businesses and policymakers concerned about compliance burdens.
For Saudi Arabia, the European meetings fit into a broader drive to position the kingdom as a central player in the global data economy under Vision 2030. SDAIA was established in 2019 to lead the national data and AI agenda, oversee implementation across government, and build institutional capacity through entities including the National Information Centre and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence.
The authority has been central to digital public infrastructure projects, national data standards and AI adoption frameworks. Its mandate covers data management, analytics, digital platforms and policy coordination, making it one of the most powerful specialised technology bodies in the region. Saudi Arabia has also introduced a Personal Data Protection Law framework, with compliance obligations applying to organisations that process personal data in the kingdom.
The sessions in Europe are expected to address practical questions rather than abstract policy debates. These include how governments classify AI risk, how public bodies audit algorithmic systems, how sensitive data is protected, how national data assets can be shared safely, and how regulators can encourage innovation without weakening safeguards.
The governance challenge has become more complex as generative AI and autonomous systems spread through enterprise and government operations. Models that can produce text, images, code and decisions at scale have increased concerns over bias, hallucinated outputs, copyright exposure, cybersecurity, surveillance and labour-market disruption. At the same time, governments see AI as a tool to improve service delivery, detect fraud, manage infrastructure and raise productivity.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in AI capability, research partnerships, cloud infrastructure and talent development. Its national strategy for data and AI aims to build domestic expertise, attract investment and expand the use of advanced technologies across priority sectors. The kingdom has also promoted international AI dialogue through global summits in Riyadh, drawing officials, companies and researchers into discussions on ethics, regulation and economic opportunity.
The World Bank’s involvement reflects growing recognition that AI governance is not only a technology issue but also a development concern. Poorly designed systems can widen inequality, expose citizens to misuse of personal data and undermine trust in digital government. Well-governed systems can help states improve planning, target welfare, manage climate risks and expand access to public services.
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