Riyadh: Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA) Chairman of the board of directors Fahd bin Abdulmohsen Al-Rasheed has announced that Riyadh is on track to become one of the world’s top 10 cities. He highlighted that Saudi Arabia, a Group of Twenty (G20) economy, is witnessing rapid growth, particularly in its non-oil sectors, which have expanded by 7%.

According to Saudi Press Agency, speaking at the eighth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, Al-Rasheed noted that Saudi Vision 2030 has steered the exhibitions and conferences sector into new directions. The Kingdom hosted over 17,000 events in 2023, and he stressed the goal of increasing this number to 40,000 by 2030.

The chairman also pointed to the significance of hosting Expo 2030 under the leadership of HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The global event, he stated, will unify nations and exemplify a forward-thinking vision rooted in future aspirations.

Al-Rasheed stated that artificial-intelli
gence (AI) integration is essential as the world moves deeper into the digital age, highlighting the transformative impact of AI on city adaptation and the workforce. He added that events like the FII rely heavily on technical innovation, underscoring the importance of creative thinking and innovation in shaping the future.