WASL: Connecting Global Voices with Saudi Youth at MGF2025

As I work with the applicants of the WASL Initiative, I’m filled with pride and anticipation. This year marks the pilot of a program that beautifully captures the spirit of MGF2025 — connection, discovery, and shared experience.

WASL pairs international speakers and guests with Saudi youth to help them navigate the Kingdom, its people, its traditions, and its transformation. It’s an invitation to see Saudi Arabia not just as a destination, but as a lived experience shaped by the openness and hospitality of its youth.

A Journey of Connection and Discovery

The heart of WASL lies in creating authentic, shared moments. Each Saudi participant — aged 20 to 35, an alumnus or active participant in Misk programs — becomes a cultural bridge. They guide international guests through Riyadh and the Forum, helping them experience the Kingdom’s dynamic blend of heritage and innovation.

From the timeless beauty of Diriyah, where Saudi history began, to the futuristic energy of KAFD, where ambition defines the skyline, these youth ambassadors show visitors the full story — where we started, and where we’re heading.

The WASL Experience

The program’s structure mirrors its purpose:

1. Application & Selection: Young Saudis with strong communication skills and cultural pride apply to represent the Kingdom.
2. Matching: Participants are paired with international guests based on shared interests, backgrounds, and goals.
3. Engagement: Together, they explore Saudi culture, exchange ideas, and form lasting relationships — before, during, and after MGF2025.

The result? A personalized, immersive journey that turns the Forum into a place of genuine human connection — one conversation, one friendship, one story at a time.

Why Now

Saudi Arabia is opening its doors wider than ever. As the world looks toward Riyadh for inspiration, initiatives like WASL ensure that visitors don’t just see the transformation, they feel it. Through the eyes of our youth, guests experience a Saudi Arabia that is welcoming, confident, and ready to connect with the world on equal terms.

A Beginning, Not an End

The WASL pilot is only the first step in what promises to become a lasting platform for cultural connection and exchange. What begins at MGF2025 will grow into a movement, one that celebrates Saudi hospitality, empowers youth, and builds bridges that span far beyond the Forum.

This is the spirit of WASL:
Where every meeting becomes a memory.
Every conversation becomes understanding.
And every story becomes a bridge to the future.