Saudi Arabia Takes 6 WSIS Honors as UAE Projects Win Champion Status
GENEVA — Saudi Arabia secured one WSIS Prize and five Certificates of Excellence, while several UAE digital-government and cybersecurity projects earned Champion recognition at the World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2026.
Held in Geneva from July 6–10, the forum highlighted technology projects supporting sustainable development, digital inclusion and more accessible public services. The WSIS Prizes ceremony took place on July 9 and recognised 18 Winners and 72 Champions across 18 categories.
Saudi Arabia’s official results comprised one prize and five Certificates of Excellence, awarded to projects selected from entries submitted by more than 194 countries.
Six projects led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) were recognised, covering AI service-provider accreditation, early breast cancer detection, the GAIA Generative AI Accelerator, the Tahseen digital archive initiative, AI principles and ethics in media, and the Nafath national digital identity platform.
SDAIA also received Certificates of Excellence for the Open Data Platform, recognised for expanding access to government data and enabling researchers and entrepreneurs to develop digital services, and the National Artificial Intelligence Index, which supports the measurement of AI readiness and adoption.
A project launched by the Saudi Media Forum in partnership with SDAIA also received recognition for promoting responsible AI principles in media, including guidance addressing AI-generated content and deepfakes.
In the UAE, the Ministry of Justice was named a WSIS Champion for its AI-powered Digital Power of Attorney Service, which digitises the creation and management of legal authorisations. The ministry publicly confirmed its Champion recognition following the ceremony.
The UAE Cyber Security Council also received Champion recognition for its StaySafe Nation Programme, an initiative focused on cybersecurity awareness, responsible digital behaviour and safer online participation.
The Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi gained recognition for Tomouh, an AI-powered training platform offering personalised learning pathways for government employees.
The UAE delegation was led by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which participated in discussions on responsible AI, government transformation and digital development.
The results demonstrate how Gulf governments are moving beyond experimental AI projects towards practical applications in justice, cybersecurity, healthcare, digital identity, public data and workforce development.
The recognitions also support the UAE’s digital-government agenda and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives as both countries continue investing in AI governance, national capabilities and technology-enabled public services.
