The 8th edition of the Misk Global Forum 2024 opened on November 18 at Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh, bringing together more than 150 speakers from around the world under the theme “By Youth, For Youth.” Announced through the Saudi Press Agency, the two-day gathering convenes global leaders, innovators, changemakers, and creative young people from across the Kingdom, positioning Saudi Arabia once again as a convening power for youth-focused dialogue and future development.
The forum is organized by the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (MiSK), a nonprofit institution dedicated to empowering Saudi youth and preparing them for leadership roles in the economy, culture, and society. Held at Misk City, the purpose-built nonprofit urban hub in Riyadh, the event features more than 100 dialogue sessions and 30 workshops delivered with prominent global knowledge partners. Topics span sustainability, education, innovation, technology, health, culture, and shared global challenges. Could there be a clearer signal that Saudi Arabia sees its young population not as a challenge to manage, but as the engine of its next chapter of national progress?
Context and Background
Why does a forum like this matter so much at this particular moment in Saudi Arabia’s story? The Kingdom is home to one of the youngest populations in the world, with roughly two-thirds of Saudis under the age of 35. That demographic reality sits at the heart of Vision 2030, the national transformation plan launched by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the economy, expand opportunity, and build a vibrant knowledge society. The Misk Global Forum has grown, edition by edition, into one of the flagship platforms where that ambition is translated into conversations, partnerships, and practical programs for young people.
Since its inception, the Misk Foundation has supported more than 7 million young men and women through initiatives spanning entrepreneurship, skills development, leadership training, and community engagement. The foundation’s affiliated institutions — including Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, the Misk Art Institute, and Manga Productions — work together to create an ecosystem where young Saudis can experiment, create, and lead. The 8th edition of the forum therefore represents not a standalone event but the annual culmination of a year-round effort to connect Saudi youth with global expertise and opportunity.
The choice of venue is itself significant. Misk City, the Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, is a dedicated urban environment designed to host nonprofits, youth organizations, and creative enterprises. It reflects a broader Saudi approach in which physical spaces are deliberately built to serve social and economic missions, from education and the arts to technology and entrepreneurship. For international observers, the forum offers a window into how the Kingdom is institutionalizing youth empowerment rather than treating it as a slogan.
Key Details
What did the opening day reveal about the scale and ambition of this year’s forum? In the opening address, titled “Youth Make the Future,” Dr. Badr Al-Badr, CEO of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (MiSK), outlined the foundation’s vision for empowering young people and described Misk City as more than an urban complex. He characterized it as a future-focused hub that reflects HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision of fostering a vibrant knowledge society — a place where ideas, talent, and capital converge around the next generation.
“This year’s forum is the largest in terms of speakers and the youngest in terms of participants, underscoring our commitment to youth as the leaders of tomorrow,” Dr. Al-Badr said. “Since its inception, the Misk Foundation has supported over 7 million young men and women. Our mission is singular: to empower youth and prepare them as drivers of the future.” Those remarks frame the forum as both a celebration of progress and a working summit aimed at concrete outcomes.
The program includes unique interactive spaces such as “Theatre,” “Leaders’ Diwan,” and “Youth House,” each designed to inspire creativity and critical thinking while fostering cultural collaboration. Across more than 100 dialogue sessions and 30 workshops, participants will engage with global knowledge partners on subjects ranging from sustainability and education to innovation, technology, health, and culture. The mix of formats — keynote addresses, moderated conversations, hands-on workshops, and informal networking areas — is intended to ensure that young attendees are not passive listeners but active contributors to the agenda.
International and Regional Impact
How does a youth forum in Riyadh resonate beyond Saudi borders? By convening more than 150 speakers from around the globe, the Misk Global Forum places Saudi Arabia at the center of an international conversation about the future of work, education, and innovation. Participants from different regions bring perspectives on how societies can harness demographic change, technological disruption, and cultural exchange. For many international attendees, the forum is also an opportunity to see the Kingdom’s transformation firsthand and to build relationships with a new generation of Saudi leaders, founders, and creators.
Regionally, the event reinforces a broader trend in which Gulf economies compete and cooperate on human capital development. Saudi Arabia’s scale, resources, and reform momentum give it a distinctive role: it can serve as a platform where global best practices meet regional priorities. The presence of leaders, innovators, and changemakers from multiple countries signals that youth empowerment is increasingly treated as a shared international agenda, not a domestic concern. The forum’s emphasis on cultural collaboration also helps project a more nuanced image of the Kingdom to global audiences, one defined by openness, curiosity, and partnership.
Economic and Strategic Significance
What economic logic underpins this investment in young people? Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification depends on building a workforce and entrepreneurial class capable of competing in knowledge-intensive sectors. Programs that develop skills, support startups, and connect young talent with mentors and markets are therefore directly linked to national growth objectives. By hosting a forum that brings together global knowledge partners, the Misk Foundation helps transfer expertise into the Saudi ecosystem, strengthening the pipeline of ideas and ventures that can contribute to non-oil sectors over time.
The strategic significance extends to soft power as well. A well-organized, internationally attended forum demonstrates Saudi institutional capacity and showcases the Kingdom’s convening ability. It also builds networks that can support future collaboration in education, technology, health, and culture. For companies and universities looking to engage with the Middle East, the Misk Global Forum offers a structured entry point to young Saudi talent and to the organizations that support them. In that sense, the event is both a platform and an investment in long-term relationships.
Vision 2030 Alignment
How does the Misk Global Forum connect to the broader goals of Vision 2030? The forum’s themes — sustainability, education, innovation, technology, health, and culture — map directly onto the Vision’s pillars of a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. Empowering youth is not a peripheral objective; it is a precondition for achieving diversification, increasing workforce participation, and fostering the creative industries that Saudi Arabia is actively developing. The Misk Foundation’s programs in entrepreneurship, skills development, leadership, and community engagement are designed to turn national ambition into individual capability.
As the 8th edition unfolds at Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, the message from Riyadh is clear: Saudi Arabia intends to keep investing in its young people and to keep opening doors for them to engage with the world. The forum’s theme, “By Youth, For Youth,” captures a philosophy that runs through the Kingdom’s modernization efforts — that the next generation should not merely inherit the future but help build it. For international audiences, the event is an invitation to watch, engage with, and partner in a transformation that is still unfolding. And as Dr. Al-Badr’s remarks suggest, the measure of success will be the leaders, innovators, and changemakers who emerge from this gathering ready to shape what comes next.
20 Questions
Q1. What is the Misk Global Forum 2024?
A1. It is the 8th edition of a youth-focused global gathering organized by the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (MiSK), held at Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh under the theme “By Youth, For Youth.”
Q2. When did the 8th edition begin?
A2. The forum began on November 18, 2024, according to the Saudi Press Agency, and runs as a two-day event bringing together global and Saudi participants.
Q3. Where is the forum taking place?
A3. It is being held at Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, also known as Misk City, a purpose-built nonprofit urban hub in Riyadh designed for youth, creativity, and social impact.
Q4. Who organized the forum?
A4. The forum is organized by the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (MiSK), a nonprofit institution dedicated to empowering Saudi youth through education, entrepreneurship, leadership, and community programs.
Q5. How many speakers are participating?
A5. More than 150 speakers from around the globe are taking part, alongside leaders, innovators, changemakers, and creative youth from across Saudi Arabia.
Q6. What is the theme of this year’s forum?
A6. The theme is “By Youth, For Youth,” emphasizing that young people should shape the agenda and outcomes of the gathering rather than simply attend it.
Q7. How many sessions and workshops are featured?
A7. The program includes more than 100 dialogue sessions and 30 workshops conducted in collaboration with prominent global knowledge partners across multiple fields.
Q8. What topics are covered at the forum?
A8. Key topics include sustainability, education, innovation, technology, health, culture, and global challenges, reflecting a broad and forward-looking agenda.
Q9. Who delivered the opening address?
A9. Dr. Badr Al-Badr, CEO of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (MiSK), delivered the opening address titled “Youth Make the Future,” outlining the foundation’s vision.
Q10. What did Dr. Al-Badr say about Misk City?
A10. He described Misk City as more than an urban complex, calling it a future-focused hub that reflects HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision of fostering a vibrant knowledge society.
Q11. How many young people has the Misk Foundation supported?
A11. Since its inception, the Misk Foundation has supported over 7 million young men and women through its various programs and initiatives.
Q12. What interactive spaces does the forum offer?
A12. The forum features unique interactive spaces such as “Theatre,” “Leaders’ Diwan,” and “Youth House” to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and cultural collaboration.
Q13. What are the Misk Foundation’s key affiliates?
A13. Key affiliates include Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, the Misk Art Institute, and Manga Productions, which together create an environment that empowers youth.
Q14. How does the forum support entrepreneurship?
A14. It complements specialized Misk programs in entrepreneurship, skills development, leadership, and community engagement, helping young people turn ideas into ventures.
Q15. Why is the forum significant for Saudi Arabia?
A15. It reinforces Saudi Arabia’s commitment to youth empowerment and aligns with Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification, education, and a vibrant society.
Q16. What is the international dimension of the forum?
A16. By convening over 150 global speakers, it positions Saudi Arabia as a platform for international dialogue on youth, innovation, and future development.
Q17. How does the forum reflect Vision 2030?
A17. Its themes — sustainability, education, innovation, technology, health, and culture — directly support Vision 2030’s pillars of a thriving economy and vibrant society.
Q18. What role does Misk City play in the forum?
A18. Misk City serves as the venue and living example of the nonprofit ecosystem, hosting nonprofits, youth organizations, and creative enterprises in a dedicated urban environment.
Q19. How can international participants engage?
A19. International participants can join dialogue sessions, workshops, and networking spaces, building relationships with young Saudi talent and the organizations that support them.
Q20. What is the expected outcome of the forum?
A20. The forum aims to empower youth, foster cultural collaboration, and generate ideas and partnerships that contribute to Saudi Arabia’s long-term development and global engagement.
Reader Feedback
We value your thoughts. Please share your feedback on this article.
Your feedback helps us improve our coverage.
Related articles
Saudi Foreign Ministry Official Meets Pakistan Consul General
ITFC Chief Meets Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister at COP29
Saudi Arabia Focuses on Global Cooperation, Food Security at G20
Misk City and Samsung Sign MoU to Drive Innovation and Empower Youth
KSrelief Distributes Winter Clothing Vouchers in Lebanon
Commander of Joint Forces Receives Yemeni Vice President