The Council of Economic and Development Affairs reviews the impact of global transformations on the economy and the budget, while following up on the implementation of decisions and the presence of “Saudipedia” in search engines and artificial intelligence

Riyadh | BETH

During its meeting held via video conference, the Council of Economic and Development Affairs reviewed global economic developments and their potential implications for the Kingdom, the performance of the state budget in the second quarter of 2026, and the implementation levels of the Council’s decisions and recommendations.

The Council reviewed the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s report on the challenges facing global growth, rapidly evolving geopolitical changes, and the opportunities that can be utilized to enhance the competitiveness of the Saudi economy and its ability to keep pace with global transformations.

It also discussed the Ministry of Finance’s report on revenues, expenditures, and public debt, and what the fiscal performance reflects in terms of flexibility in managing public finances, supported by the diversification of the economic base and proactive policies, while maintaining fiscal sustainability and advancing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Council also followed up on the implementation of its decisions and recommendations issued during the second quarter, based on detailed indicators covering the center of government and the entities represented on the Council.

Knowledge in the Age of Generative AI

The Council reviewed the progress of “Saudipedia,” its expansion in multiple languages, indicators of its content’s visibility in search and generative engines, and efforts to keep pace with the transformation in artificial intelligence in a manner that enhances the reliability of information about the Kingdom and the presence of national content in the digital space.

The Council was also briefed on the Kingdom’s continued ranking first globally in the Cybersecurity Index for the third consecutive year, as well as indicators covering inflation, wholesale prices, gross domestic product, and foreign trade.

Beyond the Meeting

The significance of the meeting does not lie in reviewing the reports separately, but in bringing four elements together within a single decision-making circle: reading the global economy, measuring the fiscal position, following up on the implementation of decisions, and protecting the Kingdom’s knowledge-based and digital presence.

Geopolitical changes are not viewed solely as risks, but also as potential opportunities to redirect investment and supply chains and strengthen the Kingdom’s position in the global economy.

Monitoring “Saudipedia” across generative engines represents an important shift from focusing on the visibility of Saudi content in search results to ensuring its presence within answers produced by artificial intelligence systems.

In this context, the encyclopedia goes beyond its role of introducing the Kingdom to become a reliable national source that contributes to shaping digital knowledge about Saudi Arabia and reduces global platforms’ dependence on incomplete or inaccurate information.

The meeting’s agenda demonstrates that economic management is no longer based on financial figures alone, but on the integration of finance, implementation, knowledge, and digital security. The economy of the future requires more than a flexible budget; it also needs decisions that are followed through, reliable information, and a secure digital environment that protects both.