At LEAP Saudi Arabia 2026, industry leaders and government representatives convened to discuss strategies for advancing digital inclusion amid the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. The panel, titled “Bridging Global Gaps in Digital Inclusion, Government and Cross-Nation Strategies,” emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among governments, technology firms, and social-sector organizations to ensure that underserved communities are not left behind as digital technologies evolve.

The session, moderated by media personality Solange El-Rassi, featured insights from experts including Samar Al-Shorfa, founding CEO of She is Arab; Prisicla Bossi, vice president of technology for SSEA, CIS, and MEA at Philip Morris International; Wojciech Bajda, vice president and head of MENAR at Iron Mountain; and Lana Khalaf, public sector lead for MEA at Microsoft.

Al-Shorfa stressed the critical role of public-private partnerships and engagement with organizations directly connected to marginalized groups. She argued that effective digital inclusion strategies must be tailored to local contexts rather than applying a uniform approach across countries. “We should focus on leveraging the public-private partnerships and partnerships with the social sector because, again, they are the ones that can reach the most communities,” she said.

Bajda highlighted that countries currently experiencing rapid digital transformation have a unique opportunity to bypass challenges associated with fragmented technology development seen in other regions. “They don’t need to repeat the same mistakes that other countries did,” he noted, referencing the proliferation of disparate platforms and standards over decades. He also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and skills development as key drivers of its digital evolution. Bajda advocated for technology adoption approaches that thoughtfully incorporate local culture, regulatory frameworks, and specific conditions.

Prisicla Bossi underscored the importance of integrating accessibility from the earliest stages of technology development rather than treating it as an afterthought. She emphasized that platforms and innovations should be designed to be inclusive from inception, placing accessibility on par with other design priorities such as privacy and cybersecurity.

Together, the speakers highlighted that closing global digital gaps requires coordinated strategies that support infrastructure development, skills growth, and regulatory alignment. They called for cross-national policies and collaborative frameworks to foster environments where artificial intelligence and digital tools can benefit all segments of society, especially those currently underserved.