Saudi Arabia’s social responsibility forum returns to Riyadh in October

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will host the second International Social Responsibility Forum in Riyadh on Oct. 5-6, 2026, under the patronage of King Salman. The event will bring together more than 3,000 participants and focus on turning corporate commitments into measurable impact.

Why it matters: - The forum aims to move corporate social responsibility discussions from pledges to measurable results. - The event is designed to connect business leaders, regulators, investors, academics and civil society around practical implementation. - The forum includes an awards ceremony to recognize companies that have turned commitments into documented outcomes across Saudi Arabia.

What happened: - The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will organize the second International Social Responsibility Forum 2026 in Riyadh on Oct. 5-6. - The forum is held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. - The event carries the theme “From Commitment to Impact.” - More than 3,000 participants are expected. - The program will feature more than 100 speakers and more than 40 panel sessions over two days.

The details: - The forum will run across three main platforms. - The general session will host opening remarks, ministerial interventions and panel discussions. - The Corporate Social Responsibility Impact platform will hold specialized workshops led by experts on real-world experience and global perspectives. - The Corporate Social Responsibility Standards platform will bring together thought leaders and experts to discuss shared challenges and best practices. - The forum will focus on six strategic themes: strategy and integration; climate, nature and just transition; workforce, talent management and social impact; responsible innovation; digital transformation and corporate social responsibility; governance, trust and standards. - Sessions will cover board accountability and enterprise risk management. - Discussions will also address aligning the economic side of corporate social responsibility with institutional investment requirements. - The agenda will examine barriers that prevent real implementation inside major institutions and companies. - The program includes a path to highlight best practices used by leading companies on the ground. - The forum will feature a Corporate Social Responsibility Award ceremony. - The award will honor companies that have converted commitments into proven, measurable results across the Kingdom. - The forum says it wants participants to leave with practical ideas that can be applied inside their organizations and communities.

Between the lines: - The structure signals a shift from awareness-building to execution, measurement and standards-setting. - The presence of investors and standard-setters suggests the forum is trying to align CSR with capital allocation and governance expectations. - The focus on practical outcomes points to a broader effort to make social responsibility easier to measure and harder to treat as branding. - The event’s mix of government, private-sector and civil-society participants indicates a cross-sector push to widen adoption.

What's next: - The forum opens in Riyadh on Oct. 5 and continues through Oct. 6, 2026. - Organizers will use the sessions, workshops and awards program to showcase implementations and likely set the tone for future CSR practice in the Kingdom. - The event’s discussions are expected to produce actionable ideas for organizations seeking to improve social impact and reporting.

The bottom line: - Saudi Arabia is positioning its flagship CSR forum as a working event focused on implementation, standards and measurable impact, not just commitments. - Follow the forum’s updates - See photos and clips - Watch forum videos - Track announcements on X