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RIYADH: Artificial intelligence adoption in the Global South is set to accelerate under a new UAE-led partnership with Malaysia and Rwanda aimed at expanding ethical AI use and knowledge sharing. 

The agreement, signed under the World Economic Forum’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution global network, builds on an initiative launched by the UAE and Rwanda at the 2024 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, according to a press release. 

The partnership comes amid rising global concern that emerging technologies could exacerbate inequality. The UN estimates the AI market will reach $4.8 trillion by 2033, warning that without inclusive frameworks, the Global South risks being left behind. 

Gobind Singh Deo, minister of digital in Malaysia, said his country “is proud to join forces with the UAE and Rwanda in this visionary initiative to bridge global AI expertise and accelerate digital transformation for a more inclusive and sustainable future.” 

He added: “This partnership involving Malaysia Center4IR, C4IR UAE, and C4IR Rwanda reflects our collective goal for a future that is driven by responsible AI innovation.” 

Singh Deo expressed hope that the C4IR Network AI Fellowship Program, developed through the collaboration, would act as a crucial bridge connecting AI leaders and experts across continents. 

“By sharing knowledge, exchanging talent, and co-creating solutions, we aim to address the critical challenges and harness the immense potential of AI for the benefit of not only our nations, but the wider global community,” he added. 

The memorandum of understanding was witnessed by UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Al-Olama and Malaysia’s Singh Deo. It aims to deepen South-South collaboration on technology policy, research, and skills development. 

With Malaysia now joining, the expanded C4IR AI Fellowship Program will support talent exchange, joint innovation, and responsible governance frameworks led by Global South countries. 

“This expanded partnership will help the Global South to unlock greater value from AI and Fourth Industrial Revolution applications,” said Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation. 

“Guided by our leadership, the UAE is committed to building and strengthening global collaboration to achieve inclusive, sustainable development through technology and knowledge sharing,” he added. 

Crystal Rugege, managing director of the Rwanda Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, noted that the strategic partnership complemented Rwanda’s flagship initiatives, including the AI Innovation Lab and the Global AI Summit on Africa, thereby enhancing efforts to promote cutting-edge research, knowledge transfer, and capacity building. 

“By strengthening responsible AI governance and accelerating practical AI adoption, we are committed to empowering Rwanda, our partner countries, and the global AI ecosystem to fully leverage AI for sustainable and inclusive development,” she added. 

The Global Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network brings together public and private sector partners to harness emerging technologies while managing their risks. It promotes the responsible use of these technologies through a global network of independent centers.

RIYADH: ������Ƶ’s economy expanded by 3.9 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2025, led by a strong performance in non-oil sectors, official data showed. 

According to flash estimates from the General Authority for Statistics, growth in non-oil activities reached 4.7 percent, outpacing the 3.8 percent expansion in the oil sector and a 0.6 percent rise in government services. 

The non-oil sector contributed the largest share to GDP growth, adding 2.7 percentage points, followed by oil activities at 0.9 percentage points. 

Government activities and net taxes on products each contributed 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively, to the overall expansion. 

The data aligns with the macroeconomic outlook from S&P Global Ratings, which projects ������Ƶ’s real GDP to grow at an average rate of 3.5 percent between 2025 and 2028, surpassing the 0.8 percent growth recorded in 2024. 

“Seasonally adjusted real GDP increased 2.1 percent in Q2/2025, compared to the previous quarter Q1/2025,” GASTAT said in its quarterly update.

“This increase was due to the largest increase in oil activities since Q3/2021, up by 5.6 percent this quarter. Non-oil activities grew by 1.6 percent while government activities recorded a decrease of 0.8 percent,” it added. 

GASTAT said oil activities accounted for 1.3 percentage points of the quarterly growth, with non-oil sectors adding 0.9 percentage point.  

However, government activities and net taxes on products each had a negative impact of 0.1 percentage point. 

Supporting the non-oil growth trend, ������Ƶ’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, rose to SR31.11 billion ($8.29 billion) in May, marking a 6 percent increase compared to the same month in 2024, according to preliminary data from GASTAT released last week. 

The UAE remained the top destination for the Kingdom’s non-oil goods, with exports amounting to SR9.54 billion. India was the second largest partner at SR2.78 billion, followed by China at SR2.03 billion, Bahrain at SR989.1 million, and Turkiye at SR924.7 million. 

Meanwhile, in its report titled “Saudi Credit Trends: Change in Progress,” published on July 30, S&P Global said that Vision 2030 initiatives are “set to enhance non-oil growth over the medium term,” supported by construction activity, rising consumer demand, and a broader labor force. 

Female labor force participation has more than doubled since 1999, stabilizing at 36 percent since 2022. 

S&P Global said that tourism now contributes approximately 6 percent of GDP and 14 percent of current account receipts in 2024, up from 5 percent in 2022.  

The sector is expected to grow further due to improved visa processes and a broader leisure economy.  

Despite projected fiscal deficits averaging 4.4 percent of GDP through 2028, public investments tied to Vision 2030, including major events like Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, are expected to sustain economic momentum, S&P said.