Global leaders convene in Riyadh to accelerate urban mobility transformation

Riyadh will host one of the world’s most significant mobility gatherings this December as CoMotion Global brings together international policymakers, industry executives, and city leaders to explore the future of transportation, logistics, and urban transformation. For Saudi Arabia, the summit reflects the Kingdom’s rapid ascent as an international hub for mobility innovation — aligned with Vision 2030’s ambitions to modernize infrastructure and strengthen global connectivity.

The summit will debut Mayors in Motion, uniting 100+ city leaders from six continents to share practical solutions on decarbonisation, congestion, digital infrastructure, and the impact of artificial intelligence on urban development — putting real implementation at the center of the agenda.

Riyadh’s selection as host city underscores its expanding role as a global hub for business, investment, and smart-city planning. Supported by the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA), the summit highlights the capital’s emergence as one of the fastest-evolving smart cities in the world.

Saudi leadership

A keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, Vice Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Acting President of the Transport General Authority. He will outline the Kingdom’s ambition to establish itself as a global logistics and mobility leader through sustainable infrastructure, advanced technologies, and international partnership.

For the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services (MOTL) and the Transport General Authority (TGA), participation reflects key Vision 2030 objectives: expanding private-sector investment, improving service quality, strengthening tourism and trade, and driving the energy transition.

“The summit provides an excellent opportunity to exchange expertise and review international experiences,” said Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih. The partnership, he added, supports the Kingdom’s goal of becoming a global logistics hub powered by smart infrastructure and advanced technologies.

CoMotion Global CEO John Rossant said Riyadh is positioned to “serve as a model for cities around the world as they reimagine what mobility, logistics, and urban connectivity can become.”

Mayors in Motion: 100+ city leaders unite

The Mayors in Motion initiative will bring together current and former city leaders applying bold, data-driven solutions to build cleaner, safer, and more inclusive cities. Speakers represent global capitals and fast-growing urban centers alike, demonstrating how local leadership can drive scalable innovation — from new mobility systems to resilient infrastructure and community-focused planning.

The Mayors in Motion delegation includes Lord Marvin Rees, former Mayor of Bristol, known for large-scale clean-energy investment and collaborative governance; Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, advancing data-driven transport systems and serving as C40 co-chair; Jan Vapaavuori, former Mayor of Helsinki, with two decades shaping infrastructure and economic policy; Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of Banjul, promoting sustainable infrastructure and gender-inclusive development; Dada Morero, Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, leading a green-energy and urban-transformation agenda in Africa’s business and financial capital; and Mauricio Rodas, former Mayor of Quito, who delivered Ecuador’s first Metro system.

They will be joined by city officials from Accra, Lalitpur, Kitchener, Barranquilla, Tehran, Pretoria, Ambato, Nkolmetet and beyond. While representing vastly different economies and geographies, many face the same challenge: how to expand sustainable mobility while keeping cities livable and inclusive.

The entire ecosystem

Alongside mayors, the summit will convene CEOs, investors, academics, and mobility innovators. Confirmed industry speakers include Mate Rimac, CEO of Rimac Automobili and founder of the Rimac Group; Valerie Labi, CEO & Co-Founder of Wahu!; Majid Mufti, CEO, NEOM Investment Fund; and Ladi Delano, Founder of Moove.

From electrification and autonomous transport to supply-chain modernization, the agenda reflects the rapid changes reshaping how people and goods move through cities.

Why Riyadh matters

Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in digital infrastructure, smart transit, logistics hubs, and clean transportation. Among its most notable initiatives is the Riyadh Metro, operated by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City — one of the largest fully automated and driverless metro systems in the world. Alongside visionary projects such as NEOM and major upgrades to national transport networks, these developments are transforming mobility to drive economic diversification and sustainable urban growth.

CoMotion Global positions Riyadh as the emerging hub for these conversations. As cities adapt to climate targets, population growth, and shifting economic models, the Kingdom’s approach to mobility—technology-driven, highly networked, and built on global cooperation—is drawing increasing international attention.

If the future of transportation is defined by connectivity, automation, and sustainability, Saudi Arabia is signaling that it intends not just to participate in that future, but to help design it.

CoMotion Global will be held December 7–9 at the KAFD Conference Centre in Riyadh. Limited complimentary passes are available for industry and public sector officials. Secure your complimentary pass here, or 30% off VIP passes here