Riyadh (Saudi Arabia – The Global CIO Forum successfully concluded the World CIO 200 Summit – KSA Edition 2025 in Riyadh, uniting the Kingdom’s leading CIOs, CISOs and GRC Heads under one roof to advance the nation’s digital transformation agenda.
The summit served as a strategic platform to explore cutting-edge developments in AI, cybersecurity, cloud innovation, and technology leadership. Opening the event, Ronak Samantaray, Co-founder and CEO of GEC Media Group and Global CIO Forum, emphasized the importance of collaboration and future-ready leadership.
As the Country Ambassador, Eng. Mohammed Mahnashi, Founding Member of CAAS, reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a robust digital economy, while Dr. Hasan Mohammed Alameer from the Digital Economy Center, Cheif Guest at the Summit delivered a powerful keynote on the Kingdom’s strategic tech ambitions.
A key highlight was the “Pioneers of E-Services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Awards 2025”, celebrating outstanding contributions to digital public services. The event also featured thought-provoking sessions and panel discussions on topics such as:
The ‘AI or Die’ – CIO Dilemma was moderated by Eng. Mohammed Mahnashi. Mohammed Ali Shobani moderated second panel of Cloud Exit Strategy. “Innovation at what cost?” was moderated by Shehab El Najjar.
Fourth panel discussion “Resilience in Chaos” was moderated by Adnan Rafique Ahmed, delved into GRC, Enterprise Risk Management and Business Continuity practices.
The day concluded with the CIO 200 Awards, honoring technology leaders across four categories — Next-Gen, Leader, Master, and Legend — recognizing their pivotal role in driving enterprise transformation.
The summit reinforced Saudi Arabia’s position as a rising tech hub and showcased the visionary leadership shaping its digital future.
