Sessions at the second edition of the Global CSR Forum 2026 in Riyadh featured extensive discussion on ways to move social responsibility practices from the realm of seasonal initiatives into the core of corporate strategies and board decisions, so that commitments become measurable and tied to tangible impact, with the participation of officials, experts, and specialists from within the Kingdom and abroad.
Participants addressed the role of governance and data in raising the efficiency of institutional work and improving services, at a time of growing reliance on artificial intelligence technologies, emphasizing the use of data to enhance the beneficiary experience and support the quality of decision-making within institutions.
The sessions reviewed practical models for enhancing social impact, including financing exceeding SAR 170 billion provided over 54 years, benefiting nearly 10 million citizens, while the number of beneficiaries of awareness and non-financial support programs reached about 5 million citizens. This was alongside themes related to social protection, support for self-sufficiency, freelancing, home-based businesses, financing for small and medium enterprises and startups, and the use of modern technologies and virtual assistants, one of which has reached about one million users.
Participants discussed how to translate the directions and objectives set by boards of directors into budgets and measurable executive plans, with the involvement of executive committees and various departments, and how to convert commitments into operational policies and actual practices, along with the impact of long-term institutional decisions on society, particularly in the infrastructure, safety, and quality-of-life sectors.
The sessions also touched on the social dimension and quality of life, the role of sports initiatives in serving the community and the need to measure their impact and ensure their sustainability, along with integrating waste management and energy consumption topics into corporate operational policies. Experiences involving more than 100 sports projects were reviewed, with emphasis on ensuring that programs are not limited to temporary initiatives and are connected to the community, schools, teachers, and various cities.