Argaam Weekend | The harsh truth

The harsh truth

12^th July 2025

● The harsh truth about AI-driven Venture Capital in MENA
● How Intellectual Property Strengthens Saudi Arabia’s Position as a Rising Economic Power
● Tourism creates jobs, but how about other sectors?

Topics of the Week

The harsh truth about AI-driven Venture Capital in MENA

The exponential rise of venture capital (VC) in the MENA region, notably in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has catalyzed a rapid influx of investment into AI-driven startups, promising technological innovation and economic diversification.
However, this rapid rise in VC funding over the past five years often focuses more on increasing the financial value of AI algorithms and data that companies own, rather than making sure these technologies actually benefit society.

How Intellectual Property Strengthens Saudi Arabia’s Position as a Rising Economic Power

In 2024, a promising young Saudi student from the Technical College in Riyadh achieved global recognition by securing first place in aerospace engineering at the prestigious International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX).
Additionally, he was honored with the Best Young Innovator in the World award, presented by Singapore.

Tourism creates jobs, but how about other sectors?

The recent employment data from Saudi Arabia highlight a dynamic and evolving economic landscape with significant job creation in the tourism sector compared to other vital sectors chiefly manufacturing, and technology.
In 2024, the tourism sector created employed a total of 966.5 thousand individuals, significantly outpacing the manufacturing sector's 44,000 new jobs and the IT sector’s 9,348 jobs.

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