Madinah:The International Conference on Technology and Engineering Innovation for Sustainability (SusTAIN 2026) opened with the patronage of Madinah Region Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz. The event is organized by the University of Prince Mugrin.

According to Saudi Press Agency, University President Dr. Bandar Hajjar, in his keynote address, emphasized the conference's focus on sustainability, aligning with the university's academic priorities like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and engineering. These objectives also support Saudi Vision 2030 and address urgent global challenges.

Dr. Hajjar announced the university's initiative to create a global city network for innovation in sustainability. This platform aims to connect international scientists, innovators, and decision-makers, furthering Madinah's role as an international intellectual and scientific hub. The university has established partnerships with leading global institutions and hosts a diverse student body representing 39 nationalities.

The conference also included an address by Dr. Majid Al-Shehri, Acting Director-General of the UNESCO-affiliated International Center for AI Research and Ethics in Riyadh. He highlighted the importance of deploying responsible AI to achieve measurable societal impacts.