Riyadh recently played host to more than 1,000 global leaders during a two-day World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting. The event, focused on global collaboration, growth, and energy for development, saw prominent figures from politics, economics, energy, and technology convene to address pressing cross-border challenges and advocate for pathways to stability, prosperity, and inclusive growth opportunities.

The gathering marked a historic milestone for the World Economic Forum, with over 1,000 participants making it the highest-ever number of registrations for a WEF event hosted outside of its Annual Meeting venue in Davos Klosters, Switzerland.

Throughout the Special Meeting, several key initiatives were launched in various fields including healthcare, artificial intelligence, space, and sustainability. On the final day, Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, announced the company's ambitious goal to introduce the first cancer treatment product to the healthcare market by 2025.

One significant development on the first day was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The agreement aims to ensure equitable access to healthcare services globally, particularly focusing on delivering vaccines and essential health services to millions of children.

During the concluding plenary session, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Economy and Planning, His Excellency Faisal Alibrahim, announced the Kingdom's participation in the AI Governance Alliance and the co-launch of the 'Inclusive AI Initiative for Growth and Development' to foster AI access and adoption solutions.

Furthermore, the Saudi Space Agency unveiled plans to establish the Center for Space Futures in collaboration with WEF, serving as a platform for public-private dialogues and facilitating the growth of the global space economy.

The Special Meeting also witnessed the launch of the Saudi Arabia-led Sustainability Champions Network, aimed at accelerating the private sector's efforts towards decarbonization. Additionally, Saudi Arabia announced extensions to its collaboration with WEF's innovation platform, UpLink, introducing initiatives focused on reducing emissions through the circular carbon economy and promoting blue economy innovations for ocean regeneration.

WEF President Børge Brende lauded the Special Meeting in Riyadh as a significant gathering, drawing the attendance of key global leaders including President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary David Cameron. Notable philanthropist Bill Gates participated in a session on "Bridging the Health Gap" alongside Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Health, Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel.