Riyadh to host second Global CSR Forum in 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will bring world leaders, investors and regulators to Riyadh on 5-6 October 2026 for the second Global CSR Forum. The event aims to shift corporate social responsibility discussions from pledges to measurable outcomes.

Why it matters: - The second Global CSR Forum is designed to push corporate social responsibility from broad commitments to measurable delivery. - Saudi Arabia is using the event to connect its Vision 2030 social responsibility agenda with global best practices. - The forum comes as companies and governments face more pressure to show results, not just publish plans.

What happened: - The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will host the second Global CSR Forum on 5-6 October 2026 in Riyadh. - The event will take place at the Sofitel Riyadh Hotel & Convention Centre. - The forum is held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. - Organizers expect more than 3,000 delegates, 100 international speakers and more than 40 sessions. - The forum theme is “From Commitment to Impact.”

The details: - The two-day program will focus on advancing corporate social responsibility worldwide through keynotes, ministerial interventions, panel discussions and masterclasses. - The forum will bring together C-suite executives, government leaders, regulators, standards bodies, institutional investors, academics and civil society. - The event is built around six strategic pillars. - The ministry said the forum will benchmark progress, build cross-sector partnerships and help translate ambition into measurable delivery. - Saudi Arabia’s private sector has rapidly expanded its CSR engagement in recent years, according to Minister of Human Resources H.E. Ahmad Al-Rajhi. - Saudi Arabia moved from 41st to 16th globally in the Social Responsibility Index between 2021 and 2024, based on the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024 as cited in KPMG’s “New Horizons: CSR at the Heart of Corporate Leadership” (October 2025).

Between the lines: - The forum is both a policy signal and a business signal, showing that CSR in Saudi Arabia is being framed as part of national development, not just philanthropy. - The emphasis on recurring dialogue suggests organizers see the challenge as execution, coordination and accountability rather than awareness. - The international speaker lineup and broad stakeholder mix suggest Riyadh is positioning itself as a regional hub for CSR strategy and measurement.

What's next: - The ministry will continue preparing the October 2026 forum and its program across the six pillars. - Organizers are promoting the event through the Global CSR Forum website, LinkedIn, X and YouTube. - Media inquiries can be directed to B.Alaida@hrsd.gov.sa or A.alzaid@hrsd.gov.sa.

The bottom line: - Riyadh’s second Global CSR Forum is meant to turn CSR talk into tracked outcomes, with Saudi Arabia using the event to showcase its own progress while shaping the global agenda.