RIYADH: In a bid to accelerate the growth of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has approved the establishment of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics in Riyadh. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Crown Prince, on Tuesday. The center will have its own legal personality and financial and administrative independence, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Saudi move comes against the backdrop of rising demand for AI which is set to play an increasingly important role in driving the Kingdom’s economy in the future. According to a report from global consultancy firm PwC, AI is set to contribute $135 billion to the Saudi economy in 2030, making the Kingdom the biggest beneficiary of technology in the Middle East. As Saudi Arabia pushes the embracement of digitization and future technologies, the Kingdom will see AI’s contribution to the gross domestic product rise to 12.4 percent in 2030, PwC added. Saudi Arabia is leapfrogging in the advanced technology sector, aligning with the goals outlined in Vision 2030. The government has initiated various measures to ensure that the Kingdom provides a safe online environment. Earlier in June, according to a royal decree issued by King Salman, the Kingdom established the Global Cybersecurity Forum Institute in Riyadh to harness the potential of cyberspace and support efforts to boost cyber safety on a global scale. According to a report published in the SPA, the institute will convene an annual global security forum where experts and decision-makers from around the world will meet and discuss ways to protect the most vulnerable in cyberspace while maximizing its benefits for everyone. Major Cabinet decisions Meanwhile, the Cabinet also lauded the Kingdom’s contribution to international efforts aimed at confronting the negative effects of climate change and reducing emissions by diversifying the energy mix and embracing the use of clean technologies in the sector. During the meeting, the Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Broadcasting Authority and the China Media Group for cooperation in the fields of radio and television. The Cabinet also approved an MoU on tax management between the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of Saudi Arabia and the Australian Taxation Office. Furthermore, it authorized Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, who is also chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, to sign a draft agreement with the government of Barbados in the field of air transport services.