Over the next two days, participants gathered in the Saudi capital are expected to insist that cooperation across cultures, religions and communities remains the only viable way to navigate an era marked by increasing polarization and conflict.
In his speech at the opening session, UN Secretary-General António Guterres rejected the idea that the Alliance’s mission is unrealistic or, as critics suggest, “too soft for our harsh world.”
Those who call the dialogue naive, he warned, are wrong. Diplomacy and cooperation, he said, are not optional, they are essential.
Two decades have passed since then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan launched the initiative in 2005 with the support of Spain and Türkiye. The geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically since then, but the Alliance’s central objective remains constant: to counter extremism and intolerance and to help societies of different cultures and religions live together with dignity.
The UN chief described the paradox of an era in which humanity is “more connected, but never more fragmented” and outlined two divergent futures: one defined by fear, walls and escalating wars; and another built on bridges between cultures.
Only the second path, he stressed, leads to sustainable peace: “No more October 7. No more Gaza destroyed. No more starving El-Fashers. No more communities massacred, expelled or made into scapegoats.”
The Secretary-General identified three forces capable of driving positive global change: young people, women and girls, and people of faith. He urged delegates to advance the Alliance’s mission “with courage, clarity and hope.”
Riyadh Communiqué: a call for coexistence
The countries that participated in the Forum endorsed the Riyadh Communiqué, which calls for combating all forms of religious intolerance as a global priority.
The document underlines the central role of education in fostering dialogue, human rights and peaceful societies, and reaffirms the founding objective of the Alliance: to strengthen cooperation between cultures and religions while promoting respect, mutual understanding and inclusion.
Equal voices, shared responsibility
UNAOC High Representative Miguel Moratinos, who also serves as the UN Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia, opened the session by emphasizing that all cultures must have an equal voice in shaping the future of the world.
No single perspective should dominate, he stated; Instead, a truly peaceful and inclusive global community must harness the wisdom and values of all civilizations.
Moratinos warned of “the return of hate” and urged vigilance against growing discrimination. Quoting a verse from KoranSurat Al-Hujurat, emphasized that human diversity is a source of strength, not division.
He stressed that Islam is a religion of peace and reiterated that Islamophobia should have no place anywhere. At the same time, he insisted that anti-Semitism must be eradicated, adding: “Legitimate criticism of governments should not be perceived as anti-Semitic or as a reason to demonize entire communities.”
Saudi Arabia’s message: Lean toward dialogue, don’t back down
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud reaffirmed the Kingdom’s “long-standing commitment to intercultural dialogue.” He said Saudi support for the Alliance reflects a firm belief that engagement across cultures and civilizations is essential for peace, cooperation and conflict prevention.
He highlighted several Saudi initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and countering extremism and warned of the growing spread of religiously and nationally motivated extremist movements, as well as a worrying rise in hate speech and Islamophobia over the past two decades.
Instead of causing disconnection, he said, these challenges should push nations to reinforce – not abandon – the values of dialogue, communication and coexistence.
Representatives from Spain and Türkiye, the original co-sponsors of the Alliance, also spoke, reaffirming the enduring importance of inclusion, mutual respect and sustained dialogue.
Deepfakes, hate speech and pressure for regulation
The Forum’s opening day also focused attention on one of the fastest-evolving challenges shaping the current information landscape: AI-driven disinformation.
Speakers warned that deepfakes, hate speech amplified by algorithms and unregulated systems are already reshaping public debate, and not for the better.
Ismail Serageldin, co-chairman of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and former vice-president of the World Bank Group, said the use of artificial intelligence is now inevitable.
He urged citizens not to fear new technologies, comparing the current moment with the invention of the calculator, when many predicted the end of accounting jobs.
“Instead,” he noted, “they adapted” and argued that society will do the same today. With the right safeguards, he added, AI could even help people achieve a better work-life balance.
Serageldin stressed that AI will not replace humans, but people who know how to use it will gain a decisive advantage. Smart regulations should protect the public without stifling innovation or creativity, he explained.
Achraf Tasfaout, a data scientist working in the banking sector, warned that AI is accelerating the spread of hate speech and making it harder for people to distinguish real content from deepfakes.
He called for clear rules that set limits for safe use while allowing new ideas to flourish. Policymakers and journalists, he said, have a crucial role to play in defending society. In addition, young people, as the most active users of AI, will be essential in creating the solutions. He added that AI itself can be leveraged to counteract many of the problems it creates.
Atif Rashid, editor-in-chief of Analyst Newswarned that AI systems are being released “too quickly”, often without essential safeguards. He said it may seem as if “humans are guinea pigs” in a global experiment, with regulation coming only after widespread public exposure.
Mr. Rashid pointed to examples where AI has encouraged harmful behavior, which he described as “AI psychosis,” and stressed that new systems must be designed to serve all of humanity, based firmly on human values.
Here’s how to follow the forum:
The UN media team will be in Riyadh covering the remainder of the Forum.
- UN News will cover the meeting and provide stories and interviews.
- Live and on-demand broadcasts will be available on WebTV.
- Broadcast-quality video and story packages will be available on UNifeed.