Riyadh to host fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI

Saudi Arabia will host the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI (GFEAI 2026) in Riyadh from 14 to 17 September, marking the first time the event has been held in the Arab world.

The forum is organised by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in partnership with UNESCO, in cooperation with the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), and in coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. Representatives from 194 countries are expected to take part, alongside ministers, policymakers, academics and industry leaders from the public and private sectors.

Over four days and more than 30 sessions and workshops, upwards of 100 speakers will address progress made by UNESCO member states in implementing the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence since its adoption in 2021, along with the institutional, financial and technical challenges involved in translating ethical principles into workable policy. Financing for AI governance, institutional capacity building and accountability in the use of AI in government services are also on the agenda.

A central feature of the programme will be the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), a tool used to evaluate countries’ preparedness to adopt AI responsibly and to identify the institutional and regulatory frameworks they still need to build. Sessions will also examine how countries and regions can play a greater role in shaping international AI ethics standards.

Healthcare features on the draft agenda as one of several sector-specific tracks. A session titled “From Research to Decision: Navigating the Ethics and Governance of AI Across Four Health Domains” is scheduled for the second day, covering AI’s role in medical research, drug development, public health, and clinical diagnosis and treatment, as well as the public’s use of AI for health information.

Confirmed speakers include representatives from Oman’s Royal Hospital, Kuwait University, the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and the World Health Organization, alongside King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). A separate WHO-led session is listed in the same time slot.

The forum’s timing places it alongside two other Saudi AI initiatives: 2026 has been designated the Kingdom’s “Year of Artificial Intelligence,” and SDAIA is separately organising the fourth Global AI Summit, running from 15 to 17 September under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

SDAIA has opened registration for interested delegates and specialists via the forum’s official website, where the programme and speaker list are being updated ahead of the event.