{"id":28772,"date":"2026-07-03T17:05:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T15:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/italiangamingexpo.com\/?p=28772"},"modified":"2026-07-03T17:22:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T15:22:07","slug":"from-code-to-country-global-ai-show-riyadh-2026-ignites-the-era-of-agentic-ai-and-nation-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/italiangamingexpo.com\/en\/2026\/07\/03\/from-code-to-country-global-ai-show-riyadh-2026-ignites-the-era-of-agentic-ai-and-nation-building\/","title":{"rendered":"From Code to Country: Global AI Show Riyadh 2026 ignites the Era of Agentic AI and Nation-Building"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Global AI Show Riyadh held from 29-30th June,2026 cementing its status as the definitive anchor for the Kingdom\u2019s newly designated ‘Year of Artificial Intelligence’.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Defying the challenges of the prevailing geopolitical landscape, organized by VAP Group<\/a> and powered by Times Of AI<\/a>, the event emerged as a resounding success. Co-located with Global Blockchain Show Riyadh<\/a> and Global Games Show Riyadh<\/a>, the two-day summit attracted 15,000+ registrations<\/strong>, welcomed 6,723 attendees<\/strong>, featured 100+ global speakers<\/strong> and 100 exhibitors<\/strong>, and convened a 70% CXO-level delegation<\/strong> from 80+ countries<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

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 <\/strong>VAP Ventures<\/strong><\/a>, a strategic initiative to back 100 startups by 2030 and accelerate the next chapter of the global innovation ecosystem.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A Worldwide Convergence of Thought Leaders and Visionaries<\/h2>\n

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\u2019t just a concept anymore; it\u2019s being adopted across industries as a key component for optimizing workflows.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>, on why data quality will define the winners of the AI era and how trustworthy, transparent AI systems can drive real-world impact.<\/p>\n

Day 2 opened with the keynote speech by Nezar Al Turki, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of National Guard, <\/strong>outlining the shift from digital transformation to AI transformation and the leadership, governance, and workforce foundations required to scale AI-driven enterprises.<\/p>\n

Actionable Insights Arise At The Global AI Show Riyadh<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong> remarked, \u201cThe 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!\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Few Notable Speakers Included:<\/strong><\/h3>\n