The Saudi Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Tuesday, reviewed the Kingdom's achievements in artificial intelligence, women's empowerment, and the nonprofit sector, while discussing regional and international issues.
Top ICT Ranking and AI in Education
The ministers highlighted that Saudi Arabia secured the first position in the ICT Development Index 2026, issued by the International Telecommunication Union. According to the Saudi Press Agency, this top ranking reflects the country's continuous development in infrastructure, regulations, technology, and artificial intelligence. The Cabinet also noted the World Bank's praise for the Kingdom's leading model of AI in digital education, launched by the National Center for E-Learning.
Women in Cybersecurity Resolution
Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the ministers welcomed the UN Human Rights Council's consensus adoption of a Saudi-led resolution promoting women's participation in cybersecurity. The resolution is based on the crown prince's international initiative “Empowering women in the field of cybersecurity,” announced in 2020 at the Global Cyber Security Forum, as reported by SPA.
Nonprofit Sector Growth
The Cabinet reported that the nonprofit sector's contribution to gross domestic product is growing. By the end of 2025, more than 7,200 organizations and 1.7 million volunteers were registered, SPA added.
Counter-Terrorism and International Cooperation
The Council discussed Saudi Arabia's participation in the Counter-Terrorism Week at the UN last week, emphasizing the Kingdom's commitment to cooperating with international organizations to eradicate terrorism and dry up its sources of financing.
Diplomatic and Bilateral Agreements
The ministers approved visa-exemption agreements with Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Poland for holders of diplomatic, service, and special passports. They also approved memorandums of understanding with Singapore on social development, with Turkiye in judicial cooperation, and with Spain in the transport sector.
Aviation and Other Highlights
The Cabinet highlighted Saudi Arabia's retention of the executive council seat in the Arab Civil Aviation Organization for the term 2026-2028.
