Saudi Arabia to host UN Internet Governance Forum 2024 in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is set to host the 19th edition of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. Scheduled for December 15-19, the event will center around the theme, “Building Our Multistakeholder Digital Future".

This high-profile forum will bring together more than 10,000 participants from 160 countries, alongside over 1,000 international speakers. The agenda includes 300 sessions and workshops designed to explore the latest internet governance policies, emerging digital challenges, and global best practices.

Key topics under discussion include innovation and risks in the digital sphere, sustainable development, human rights in the digital space and the improvement of internet governance structures.

Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, highlighted the event's significance, calling it “an exceptional platform in the era of artificial intelligence”. He emphasized its role in fostering international digital cooperation across governments, private enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and innovators. Al-Swaha stressed the forum’s aim to stimulate economic growth, societal prosperity, and a sustainable digital future.

With the rapid evolution of digital technologies and the growing need for global policies to address challenges like cybersecurity, data privacy and digital inclusivity, the Riyadh-hosted IGF will provide a critical platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

This event marks another milestone in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish itself as a global leader in digital innovation and governance.