Smart Cities Expo empowers cognitive living in KSA amid urbanization wave

Smart Cities Expo empowers cognitive living in KSA amid urbanization wave
Smart Cities Saudi Expo, to be held from Sept. 24-26, will empower cognitive living in Saudi Arabia by showcasing innovative and intelligent solutions. (Supplied)
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Updated 31 May 2024
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Smart Cities Expo empowers cognitive living in KSA amid urbanization wave

Smart Cities Expo empowers cognitive living in KSA amid urbanization wave
  • Exhibitors from 25 countries will showcase systems, solutions, products and services at Riyadh Exhibition Center from Sept. 24-26
  • The Kingdom’s infrastructure ecosystem is rapidly evolving with the increasing population

RIYADH: Smart cities have become an essential part of Saudi Arabia’s urban development priorities, reflecting the Kingdom’s dedication to using technology for sustainable urban growth.
As part of the Kingdom’s strategic vision for digital transformation and urban development, Smart Cities Saudi Expo is set to take place from Sept. 24-26 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Saudi Arabia, as the fastest growing G20 economy according to the IMF, is experiencing a rapid surge in its urban population, with about 85 percent of its population living in metropolitan areas.
The Kingdom’s infrastructure ecosystem is rapidly evolving with the increasing population, and the need for smarter, more sustainable and technologically enabled cities has grown rapidly, resulting in significant shifts in demographics, infrastructure demands and urban planning strategies.
Smart Cities Saudi Expo will play an important role in advancing the Kingdom’s journey toward intelligent smart city development. It will create avenues for business engagement and facilitate networking with those at the cutting-edge of smart city delivery.
“The inaugural Smart Cities Saudi Expo will empower cognitive living in Saudi Arabia by showcasing innovative and intelligent solutions tailored for cognitive environments,” Muhammed Kazi, senior vice president of dmg events, which is the organizer of the expo, told Arab News.
“With a growing demand for urban living in the Kingdom, the event aligns with the nation’s commitment to advancing smart city initiatives and propelling urban transformation with the seamless integration of human, robotic and citizen solutions,” he said.
The integration of digital solutions into infrastructure development is vital for building smart cities, with smart infrastructure encompassing intelligent transportation systems, energy-efficient buildings, smart grids and sustainable waste management.
These advances improve resource management, reduce environmental impact and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
At Smart Cities Saudi Expo, local and international exhibitors from 25 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, India, Poland and UAE, will showcase products and services supporting the Kingdom’s smart city ambition.
Saudi-based Meter, a digital platform providing innovative surveying and engineering solutions through modern technologies and artificial intelligence, has joined the event as the Silver Sponsor.
Participating exhibitors will showcase systems, solutions, products and services under dedicated product sectors such as digital economy, urban mobility and transport, smart building and infrastructure, smart governance, IT and telecoms, sustainability and environment and safety and security.
The event will spotlight intelligent traffic management, public transportation systems, electric and autonomous vehicles, smart parking solutions, building automation systems, smart lighting and energy management, building security and access control, video surveillance and analytics, emergency response systems, public safety sensors and alarms, e-government services, citizen engagement platforms and open data initiatives.
Saudi Arabia’s vision for future cities is taking shape through several giga projects such as NEOM, spearheaded by the Public Investment Fund, which is making significant advancements with the integration of AI, robotics and human intelligence to develop cutting-edge, digitally sustainable and cognitive cities.
“This progress has positioned the Kingdom as a hub for smart city innovations and technologies, further strengthening the need for Smart Cities Saudi Expo to empower cognitive living,” Kazi said.
The Smart Cities Expo is strategically timed amid substantial urban transformation under Saudi Vision 2030, prioritizing the development of smart, sustainable cities to enhance quality of life.


Kingdom’s civil aviation authority launches integrated digital platform, new brand identity

Kingdom’s civil aviation authority launches integrated digital platform, new brand identity
Updated 55 min 54 sec ago
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Kingdom’s civil aviation authority launches integrated digital platform, new brand identity

Kingdom’s civil aviation authority launches integrated digital platform, new brand identity
  • Aim is to improve operational efficiency, transparency and GACA’s regulatory role

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority has launched a new integrated digital platform and brand identity.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation’s changes, which includes an updated website, was announced at its headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The new platform, named Ajwaa, provides all civil aviation services, ensuring quick and efficient access for users and creates a fully digital environment for stakeholders, the SPA reported.

The aim is to improve operational efficiency, transparency, and GACA’s regulatory role, the report stated.
 

The event was attended by Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Arabia’s transport minister and chairman of GACA’s board, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, president of GACA, vice presidents, CEOs, and other officials.

Al-Duailej said the slogan for the Ajwaa platform is “Together for New Horizons.”


Geological wonders of Riyadh’s King Khalid Royal Reserve

Geological wonders of Riyadh’s King Khalid Royal Reserve
Updated 29 min 35 sec ago
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Geological wonders of Riyadh’s King Khalid Royal Reserve

Geological wonders of Riyadh’s King Khalid Royal Reserve
  • Al-Urumah mountains have caves, rock columns, stone bridges
  • Rock formations record past environmental, climatic changes

RIYADH: The King Khalid Royal Reserve is one of the nation’s most captivating areas with rock formations sculpted over thousands of years by natural erosion and fluctuating climatic conditions.

Formerly known as the Al-Thumamah Wildlife Park, the royal reserve is less than an hour’s drive from the city center.

Among the main geological features in the reserve are the Al-Urumah mountains, known for their striking natural caves, rock columns, and stone bridges.
 

With the arrival of winter and cooler temperatures, the reserve becomes a perfect destination for ecotourism and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. (SPA)

Stretching over 700 km, the dramatic landscape provides an ideal destination for photography and adventure enthusiasts, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

These landscapes hold a geological record that reveals the environmental and climatic changes the region has experienced over time.

In winter, the reserve becomes a perfect destination for ecotourism, the SPA reported.

 


Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for hosting Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh

Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for hosting Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh
Updated 20 February 2025
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Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for hosting Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh

Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for hosting Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh

RIYADH: US President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia did a “great job” in hosting talks aimed at moving toward a resolution of the Russian-Ukraine war, and thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for facilitating the discussions in Riyadh.
Trump said on Wednesday that the conflict, which began three years ago this month, would have never started had he been president.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “talked the US into spending $350 billion to go into a war that that could not be won, that never had to start and never would have started if I was president,” said Trump, adding that Ukraine would never settle the war without US involvement.
Senior US and Russian officials attended a meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting was also attended by senior Saudis, but no Ukrainians.
Trump said that Zelenskyy could have attended the discussions in the Saudi capital had he wanted to.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two sides agreed broadly to pursue three goals: to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, to create a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and to explore closer relations and economic cooperation.
Trump, talking at the FII PRIORITY Miami event, which runs between Feb. 19-21, said he hopes that a ceasefire arrives soon.
The president’s speech was wide-ranging, touching on efforts to cut government waste, boosting energy production, and his foreign policy objectives.
Dignitaries included Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund; Elon Musk, the head of a new US federal entity — called DOGE — meant to cut government waste; and Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US.


Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends

Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends
Updated 20 February 2025
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Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends

Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends
  • Secretary-general says event marked 4 years of progress

AMMAN: The Digital Cooperation Organization signed numerous memorandums of understanding during its fourth general assembly in Amman, which concluded on Wednesday.

The memorandums were signed between the DCO and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, the Agency for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Sultanate of Oman and 500 Global.

A statement of intent was also signed between the DCO and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation.

The signings came after a delegation from the DCO visited Jordan’s Prime Minister Jaafar Abdel Fattah Hassan.

Sami Smeirat, the Jordanian minister of digital economy and entrepreneurship, and the chairman of the DCO Council, said that Jordan’s presidency of the organization in 2024 had demonstrated the country’s ability to lead global efforts toward building an inclusive digital economy.

He said: “Throughout this year we have launched ambitious initiatives, strengthened public-private partnerships, and laid solid foundations to empower youth and women in the technology sector.”

Smeirat spoke of the 2025 presidency, which was handed to Kuwait.

He said: “We hand over the presidency to our brothers in the State of Kuwait. We reaffirm Jordan’s commitment to remaining an active partner in achieving the organization’s goals. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts to realize our shared vision: a digital world marked by prosperity and fairness for all.”

Deemah Al-Yahya, the secretary-general of the DCO, said that the general assembly marked four years of progress for the organization.

The secretary-general highlighted DCO’s upcoming ambitions, adding: “While we have achieved much over the past four years, there is still important work ahead to drive digital economic growth for all.”

Wednesday’s event featured panels and discussions with leading experts from across the world.

The DCO was founded in November 2020 and currently has 16 nations as members, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Oman. It also has 39 observer and partner organizations.


Piece of Kaaba’s Kiswah gifted to Uzbekistan’s Center of Islamic Civilization

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. (SPA)
Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. (SPA)
Updated 19 February 2025
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Piece of Kaaba’s Kiswah gifted to Uzbekistan’s Center of Islamic Civilization

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. (SPA)
  • Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah is currently on a visit to the Central Asian country
  • He handed over the piece of cloth to Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev

RIYADH: A piece of the holy Kaaba’s Kiswa was gifted by the Kingdom to the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, currently on a visit to the Central Asian country, handed over the piece of cloth to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the directive of King Salman.

Mirziyoyev commended the Kingdom’s efforts to develop Hajj and Umrah experiences and facilitate the journeys of Uzbek pilgrims to the Kingdom, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said.