His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Riyadh Region and Honorary President of the Riyadh Economic Forum, inaugurated the proceedings of the twelfth edition of the Riyadh Economic Forum 2026, on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in the presence of a number of princes, officials, and an elite group of experts and specialists, as well as representatives of the public and private sectors, according to a report by Al-Bilad newspaper.
The edition discusses five specialized studies addressing priority economic and developmental issues. The first study addresses enhancing smart agriculture by leveraging artificial intelligence and modern technologies to achieve food and water security, while the second examines strategies for transferring and localizing knowledge and expertise among national talent in a way that strengthens the capabilities of Saudi institutions and raises their performance efficiency.
The third study turns to the causes of traffic congestion in major cities, its economic, social, and environmental impacts, and possible solutions to improve the efficiency of urban transport, while the fourth measures the impact of legislation and public policies in supporting sustainable development, achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and promoting evidence-based decision-making.
As for the fifth study, it examines ways to maximize the economic and social returns from hosting Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup, by supporting investment and local content, diversifying the economy, and opening up new opportunities for the private sector, thereby helping to translate the major upcoming events into sustainable developmental gains.