The First Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sabr Bank talks about the technological partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
On the first day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, in which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is participating this year as a guest country, the First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sber Bank, Alexander Fedyakhin, spoke on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026 about the priorities for cooperation with the Kingdom. These priorities revolve around digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and technology dialogue. According to the executive official, Sabr today focuses on sharing experiences and professional practices that have already proven their effectiveness and success.
How do you evaluate the prospects for cooperation between Speer and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? What are the priority areas?
Today, Saudi Arabia is one of the most dynamic markets in the region in terms of growth and development. We are following with interest the changes that the Kingdom is witnessing within the framework of “Vision 2030”, which include a broad transformation in the economy, management mechanisms, and technological infrastructure.
Professional dialogue with Saudi partners in the fields of technology and digital transformation is of particular importance to Spear. We believe that there are many common topics for exchanging experiences, especially in areas where technology has a tangible practical impact on the economy and the quality of services.
At the same time, within the framework of international cooperation, we always adopt a pragmatic approach based on evaluating the regulatory environment, risks, economic feasibility, and the extent of the parties’ interest in cooperation. If these conditions exist, we are ready to develop cooperation further.
Is Speer, as a Russian technology pioneer, ready to offer his solutions to the initiatives within “Vision 2030”?
Certainly, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is primarily of interest to us as a country implementing a large-scale technological transformation within the framework of “Vision 2030”. You will find many different projects related to infrastructure and technological development within “Vision 2030”.
In this sense, Speer has relevant experience that can be used. For example, our AI-based solutions — such as computer vision technologies for smart cities, voice recognition technologies for seamless interaction with government services, and big data analytics platforms — have already been integrated with proven success in Russian cities. In addition, we have experience in building an integrated system that includes dozens of services, and this experience can be adapted to meet the needs of “Vision 2030” projects. Our expertise in cybersecurity and anti-fraud systems can also be of particular interest
If our solutions and expertise prove useful for “Vision 2030” projects, we will be happy to discuss possible cooperation formulas. The most important thing for us is that this cooperation carries clear practical value for both parties
Are there concrete examples of Spear’s AI solutions being effectively integrated into city life?
Yes, of course. Since 2023, we have been implementing in Russia a program for the transformation of territories using artificial intelligence, which aims to introduce neural network technologies into the economy and government administration. Today, 90% of Russia’s regions already use Speer’s AI solutions.
Regional projects are being implemented in the fields of medicine, agriculture, education, government services, and other sectors. We note how our participation contributes to raising the competencies of regional authorities in the field of AI-based transformation, which in turn leads to improving the quality of projects that use generative AI. As a result, citizens’ interaction with government agencies improves, becoming faster, more comfortable, and more personal.
To date, we have implemented a large number of projects based on our neural networks in Russia, and each of them has significantly proven its economic feasibility. We are ready to share these experiences and successful application cases with our international partners and colleagues, and contribute to the implementation of similar programs in other countries.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the guest country at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026. Are you planning to sign joint agreements or organize other events within the forum?
With the selection of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this year as a guest country for the 2026 Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, the forum has become a major platform for Russian-Saudi dialogue.
We have meetings scheduled with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Key topics for discussion include reliability of digital IT infrastructure, development of artificial intelligence, services based on integrated digital ecosystems, support for startups, and cooperation within the framework of the Artificial Intelligence Alliance.
