The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has achieved a national milestone in artificial intelligence, ranking third among government entities in the National Artificial Intelligence Index (NAII).
The achievement reflects the ministry's progress in adopting and applying artificial intelligence technologies to improve its operations and services, strengthen its digital infrastructure, and advance the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The ranking is part of the ministry's broader efforts to leverage artificial intelligence and data to enhance its business operations, improve service delivery, boost institutional efficiency, and accelerate digital transformation. These efforts also aim to improve the quality of services provided to beneficiaries, support data-driven decision-making, and harness emerging technologies across the environmental,water, and agricultural sectors.
The ministry was recognized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) for achieving an advanced level in the National Artificial Intelligence Index during the 4th UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence 2026.
The award was presented during the forum, held in collaboration with the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), in Riyadh from September 14–17, 2026. Dr. Abdulhameed Aleliwi, Deputy Minister for Information Technology and Digital Transformation, represented the ministry at the ceremony.
The forum brings together participants from Saudi Arabia and around the world. The event provides a global platform for exchanging expertise and experiences and advancing dialogue on the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence, while exploring the future of AI governance and ways to maximize the benefits of emerging AI technologies.
The UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence aims to share the latest international expertise and experiences in AI ethics, facilitate high-level multilateral dialogue to support policymakers, promote practical approaches to implementing AI ethics principles, and contribute to the development of AI policies and institutional capacity worldwide.