Details of the Global AI Show Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – June 2026 are as follows:
Riyadh to Host Global AI Show 2026: Where Minds and Machines Meet
Table of Contents
Date : 29–30 June 2026
Venue : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Register : Grab your tickets
Riyadh is poised to become the global epicenter of artificial intelligence as it hosts the Global AI Show (GAIS) 2026, an international summit where innovation, intelligence, and impact converge. Taking place on 29-30th June 2026, the event brings together global leaders, researchers, and enterprises shaping the future of AI, machine learning, and automation.
Powered by Times of AI, GAIS 2026 will spotlight the latest breakthroughs in intelligent systems, data-driven technologies, and ethical frameworks that are transforming industries worldwide. Designed as a hub for collaboration and knowledge exchange, the event offers two days of keynote sessions, panel discussions, live demos, and immersive workshops.
Event Highlights:
- Keynote Sessions:
Global AI leaders explore the rise of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Saudi Arabia’s AI revolution, and the evolving partnership between humans and machines. - AI in Action:
Real-world use cases showcasing AI’s role in healthcare, finance, logistics, and education, demonstrating its power to transform decisions and deliver smarter outcomes. - Ethics & Responsibility:
Panels focused on governance, regulation, and responsible AI adoption, addressing risk, transparency, and equitable innovation. - Workshops & Networking:
Hands-on sessions that foster skill-building, collaboration, and partnerships across the AI ecosystem.
A Global Stage for Innovation
From predictive medicine to AI-assisted surgery and autonomous systems, GAIS 2026 captures how innovation and intelligence are redefining humanity’s future. The Riyadh edition underscores the Kingdom’s growing influence as a leader in technology and digital transformation — setting the stage for a smarter, more connected world.
Participants will leave with actionable insights, valuable alliances, and a renewed perspective on how AI is revolutionizing industries and societies alike.
Media Enquiries: Media@globalaishow.com
Press Releases Updates:
In this section, we list all the press releases for the event.
Press Release 9th July 2026
From Code to Country: Global AI Show Riyadh 2026 Ignites the Era of Agentic AI and Nation-Building
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – The Global AI Show Riyadh held from 29-30th June,2026 cementing its status as the definitive anchor for the Kingdom’s newly designated “Year of Artificial Intelligence.”
Defying the challenges of the prevailing geopolitical landscape, organized by VAP Group and powered by Times Of AI, the event emerged as a resounding success. Co-located with Global Blockchain Show Riyadh and Global Games Show Riyadh, the two-day summit attracted 15,000+ registrations, welcomed 6,723 attendees, featured 100+ global speakers and 100 exhibitors, and convened a 70% CXO-level delegation from 80+ countries. The unprecedented international participation reinforced Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global AI powerhouse while marking a decisive shift from experimental AI pilots to centralized, nation-scale AI deployment.
As a forward-looking platform, the Global AI Show served as an example of how to create an environment for collaboration, constructive dialogue, and ultimately action, connecting the newest technologies with large-scale, real-world applications across multiple sectors and government entities. The event also witnessed the announcement of VAP Group’s most ambitious initiative yet- The launch of VAP Ventures, a strategic initiative to back 100 startups by 2030 and accelerate the next chapter of the global innovation ecosystem.
The 2026 edition highlighted the “Human-AI Interaction” framework. Keynote tracks focused heavily on workforce planning, AI-driven recruitment, and upskilling programs designed to equip the next generation of Saudi talent with the tools required to steer autonomous digital agents.
A Worldwide Convergence of Thought Leaders and Visionaries
The Global AI Show welcomed attendees from all over the world, including AI enthusiasts, developers, and government officials. This diverse mix of attendees highlights that AI isn’t just a concept anymore; it’s being adopted across industries as a key component for optimizing workflows.
The first day of the Global AI Show witnessed an opening keynote by Dr. Mohammed Nasser Alshahrani, Executive Advisor to the Minister, Council of Economic and Development Affairs,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on why data quality will define the winners of the AI era and how trustworthy, transparent AI systems can drive real-world impact.
Day 2 opened with the keynote speech by Nezar Al Turki, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of National Guard, outlining the shift from digital transformation to AI transformation and the leadership, governance, and workforce foundations required to scale AI-driven enterprises.
Actionable Insights Arise At The Global AI Show Riyadh
The two-day summit featured panel discussions, keynote speeches, informal discussions, and industry-relevant sessions. The discussions on the agenda included practical examples and opportunities for incorporating AI further into modern-day industries.
The summit explored the next frontier of artificial intelligence through discussions on agentic AI, sovereign AI infrastructure, enterprise AI transformation, responsible governance, AI-powered healthcare, financial services innovation, cybersecurity, workforce development, and the future of human-AI collaboration. Michael Lints, Founding Partner MENA, Golden Gate Ventures remarked, “The AI era is reshaping venture capital. Today’s founders need more than funding, they need access to infrastructure, strategic partnerships and global networks that help them move from breakthrough ideas to scalable businesses faster than ever before!”
The sessions also examined scalable AI deployment, investment opportunities, digital public infrastructure, intelligent automation, and the role of AI in accelerating Saudi Vision 2030 while strengthening cross-border innovation and economic collaboration.
Few Notable Speakers Included:
- Ibraheem Sheerah– Chief Transformation Officer, Digital Transformation & Technology, Saudi Arabian Airlines Holding (Saudia Group)
- Layla AlSalehi– Director General, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Paul Pacifico– Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Music Commission, Ministry of Culture
- Nate Busa– Executive Director, AI & Emerging Technologies, NEOM
- Amal Dokhan– Managing Partner, 500 Global MENA
- Kalyana Sivagnanam– Group Chief Executive Officer, Petromin Corporation
- Ayman Alhabib– Chief Data & AI Officer, D360 Bank
- Abdulrahman Alonaizan– Head of Data & Artificial Intelligence, Arab National Bank (ANB)
- Alyn Bailey– Chief Human Resources Officer, Albawani Holding
- Abdulaziz Al-Ghufaili– AI & Digital Transformation Leader, Saudi Aramco
- Abdullah Alshargi– AI & Innovation Executive, Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA)
- Aamir Khalid Pirzada– Chief Technology Officer, Mozn
- Mohamed Alhussein– Artificial Intelligence Advisor & Digital Transformation Leader
- Global AI founders, policymakers, investors, researchers, and enterprise technology leadersrepresenting 80+ countries, driving discussions on the future of agentic AI, enterprise transformation, and sovereign AI ecosystems.
Innovation and Exhibition Spotlight
The exhibition floor emerged as a vibrant hub of innovation, bringing together a diverse lineup of leading technology companies, AI pioneers, startups, and solution providers showcasing cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of artificial intelligence. From enterprise AI platforms and cybersecurity to HR technology, observability, autonomous systems, and intelligent infrastructure, exhibitors and sponsors demonstrated real-world solutions that fostered meaningful collaborations, sparked investment conversations, and accelerated technology adoption across industries.
Few Notable Exhibitors:
- Zen HR
- Netskope
- Nournet
- Magna AI
- Sarj Digital Information Technology CO.
- Edarat Group
- NTT Data
- Dynatrace
- Scale AI
- AQUIVIO Inc.
- Takween
- SAS
- Thethinkthankx
- ait
- Emotii
- OPM UAE
- Fanruan Software
- ManageEngine
- Wakeb Data Company
- Kamsora
- Sigmix Inc.
- Cloud Wave Telecommunications and Information Technology Company LLC
- ai
- Open
- Sirma Group Holding
- Wafra Greentech
AI Moves From Being An Afterthought To A Key Driver of Innovation
It’s not a surprise to see AI transforming how industries operate these days. From simply generating reports to optimizing workflows in critical areas like healthcare, the technology has made almost every aspect of work more efficient. The Global AI Show united innovators, regulators, and policymakers under one roof to ensure AI is scaled and incorporated into systems responsibly.
“What we’ve built with the Global AI Show goes far beyond a conference into a catalyst for global innovation. Seeing thousands of innovators, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs come together in Riyadh has been incredibly inspiring.Our vision has always been to create a platform where conversations lead to collaboration and collaboration leads to action. VAP Ventures is the natural next step in that journey, empowering founders who will shape the future of global innovation.” — Vishal Parmar, Founder & CEO, VAP Group
The momentum established at this summit will carry forward to the next Global AI Show set for Abu Dhabi on 12-13 November, 2026. This creates a perfect window for the discussions at Riyadh to materialize into something tangible and distribution-ready for the Abu Dhabi edition.
About Global AI Show
The Global AI Show is the definitive international stage where the future of artificial intelligence is forged. Hosted by VAP Group, this premier AI summit and conference unites global CXOs, visionary policymakers, and tech pioneers to move beyond the hype and address the real-world impact of AI.
About VAP Group
With 13+ years of expertise, VAP Group is a premier global consulting and media powerhouse driving the next wave of technology-led growth.
Through its media ecosystem and flagship events, including the Global AI Show, Global Games Show, and Global Blockchain Show, VAP Group connects policymakers, enterprises, and innovators worldwide, enabling strategic communications, ecosystem-building, and talent solutions.
Media Enquiries: media@globalaishow.com
Press Release 26th March 2026
Global AI Show Riyadh Reveals a Powerhouse Speaker Lineup Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence in the Middle East
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia- The Global AI Show Riyadh 2026, taking place June 29-30, has unveiled its first lineup of thought leaders, policymakers, innovators, and global AI experts set to drive the direction of artificial intelligence and put it on the edge of innovation until 2026.
Organized by VAP Group and powered by Times of AI, this event will feature more than 100 unique speakers from 80+ countries with backgrounds in government digital transformation, AI strategy, and startups dedicated to developing cutting-edge technology.
This exhibition in Riyadh’s major areas of innovation includes how to practically implement artificial intelligence on a large scale across infrastructure, industries, and society at large. One of the main agenda items will be the development of ‘Sovereign AI’ along with the development of national AI infrastructure, which encompasses the establishment of localized data ecosystems, regulatory frameworks, and building AI capabilities that align with the respective national priorities for the countries involved. Another one of the main themes will center around generative AI and its impacts on the way we create content, how we engage in software development, and providing digital services; this includes large language models and autonomous or digital agents as examples. Cloud 3.0 and next-generation data centers will be another area of focus, providing localized, scalable, and sustainable computing systems that enable real-time AI applications. The event will discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied in various areas, including those involving health care, financial services, and pharmaceuticals, as well as examples that demonstrate AI’s uses in predictive maintenance, optimizing grids, and energy management systems within the energy sector. The final overall focus of the event will be on human factors and AI-driven transformation; this includes training and developing talent using AI, how we can use AI in recruitment, and what collaboration between humans and AI will look like in the future. Together, these innovation themes of the Global AI Show demonstrate a holistic view of AI by integrating new technology innovation, the application of AI by industry, and the creation and development of national development strategies.
The speaker roster includes
- Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner, 500 Global MENA
- Sultan Moraished, CTO, Red Sea Global
- Hajar Elhaddaoui, Director general, Digital Cooperation Organization
- Dr. Ibraheem Sheerah, Chief Transformation Officer, Saudi Arabian Airlines Holding
- Eng. Nsaaim Alotaibi, Director, Artificial Intelligence Department, SEHA Virtual Hospital Ministry of Health – Saudi Arabia
The voices coming forward from this gathering will provide an overview of strategic insights across AI governance, enterprise deployment, implementation, and operations; advanced machine learning applications; and insights identifying the infinite number of ethical dimensions required to implement responsible innovation through strategic alignment within these organizations.
The exhibition is expected to attract 10,000+ attendees, 100+ exhibitors & sponsors, and 200+ global media partners to the Kingdom, establishing itself as an integral piece of facilitating the use of artificial intelligence throughout all sectors, public and private.
The Global AI Show Riyadh continues to be the key platform for the most influential visionaries and decision-makers participating in artificial intelligence technology to gather, collaborate, and create the new technologies, regulations, and policies needed to facilitate the continued advancement and influence on a global scale to address the needs and challenges of tomorrow.
About VAP Group:
VAP Group is a global consulting and media group focused on AI, blockchain, and gaming, with over 13 years of experience driving technology-led growth through strategic PR, marketing, and content platforms.
Through its media ecosystem and flagship events, including the Global AI Show, Global Games Show, and Global Blockchain Show, VAP Group connects policymakers, enterprises, and innovators worldwide, enabling strategic communications, ecosystem-building, and talent solutions.
Media inquiries: Media@globalaishow.com
Press Release 26th March 2026
Riyadh to Host Global AI Show: Where Minds and Machines Meet
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia– 29–30 June 2026: The Global AI Show will make Riyadh a global destination for artificial intelligence. Hosted by VAP Group and powered by the Times of AI, it is a summit for leaders in the field of artificial intelligence featuring cutting-edge technologies and AI breakthroughs to make future artificial and machine intelligence technologies industry leaders.
Our speakers in the past have encompassed an impressive diversity of worldwide players, innovators, and visionaries in technology, governance, healthcare, and cybersecurity sectors. Honorable Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta, Canada, has shared his insights alongside Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir UAE. Professor Shafi Ahmed, a renowned surgeon, futurist, humanitarian, and CEO of Medical Realities, and John Nosta, a leading innovation theorist in technology, AI, and medicine and founder of NOSTALAB, have also been part of the lineup. Janet Adams, COO and Board Director at SingularityNET/ASI, and Jeanie Fang, Director of Data & AI at Crunchbase, have brought their expertise in artificial intelligence and data innovation.
Exhibitions will feature keynote speeches by AI stalwarts in every sector, panel discussions on ethical AI, and hands-on practical workshops on how AI can be applied in practice in other industries. AI is revolutionizing our businesses and decision-making processes concerning finance or healthcare or education or logistics. The Global AI Show will show real-world use cases and success stories that demonstrate the immediate impact of AI. The following presentation examines how national governments and society can ensure responsible AI deployment, how risks are mitigated for greater success, and how profit is maximized.
In Riyadh’s Global AI Show, we will see all kinds of people and organizations, the big and small, major corporations and civil society as well as citizens at scale, together. It is a gathering for world leaders, academics, and innovators to discuss what new applications artificial intelligence will make an impact on tomorrow in all areas. The day also offers an inspiring and stirring perspective on Saudi Arabia’s AI revolution from vision to reality and the nation’s story and its relationship with smart technology as it has developed. Conversations also go deeper regarding AGI and intelligent cooperation and technological backbones for this next wave. Then it introduces AI in healthcare, examining how machine intelligence is transforming diagnostics, therapeutics, and patient care. In each session, they will describe how innovation and intelligence are transforming health, humanity, and the future: from predictive medicine to AI-assisted surgical treatments, with information generated by AI.
In terms of scale and scope is where Riyadh serves as both a node of technology and its next era in technology being showcased at the Global AI Show. Thanks to the region’s artificial intelligence developments, people will leave with different thoughts, learning, decisions, and ideas.
About Global AI Show
The Global AI Show is a worldwide premiere exhibition that focuses on connecting enterprises, founders, investors, and developers and showcasing the advancement in the artificial intelligence ecosystem through product demonstrations, keynote talks, and panel discussions from pioneers and newcomers in the industry.
About VAP Group
VAP Group is an international consulting and media organization with over 13 years of experience helping companies with their technology transformation strategically using marketing, public relations, and communications to help build the future through applying AI, blockchain, and gaming. VAP Group connects business leaders with public policymakers worldwide through its media network and global events (Global AI Show, Global Game Show, and Global Blockchain Show), building the strategic communication and ecosystem development platform necessary to support the growth of the global economy and provide talent solution
Press inquiries: Media@globalaishow.com
