Cloud catalyzes Saudi ICT market to top SR127 billion

As the Saudi ICT market tops SR127 billion, cloud investment will fast-track Saudi Vision 2030 goals and Smart Cities growth, according to the newly-appointed Managing Director of Saudi Arabia, SAP.

Cloud investment is gathering momentum, with Saudi organizations increasing software spend by 5.5 percent, increasing the Saudi ICT market to SR127 billion, according to a recent report by IDC. SAP supports cloud adoption with the recent go-live of the SAP Public Cloud Data Center in the Kingdom.

Major cloud opportunities include supporting Saudi Vision 2030 nationwide digital transformation, and the development of NEOM, one of the world’s largest and most innovative Smart Cities backed by $500 billion in investment in foundational technologies across sustainability, connectivity, and mobility.

“The time is now for cloud, with every Saudi industry vertical investing in the cloud. Our SAP Public Cloud Data Center is the ‘rocket fuel’ that will enable business competitiveness, Saudi Vision 2030’s nationwide digital transformation, and the growth of Smart Cities led by NEOM,” said Khaled Alsaleh, Managing Director, SAP Saudi Arabia. “Saudi organizations are seeing strong success in using the cloud for delivering real-time digital business models that can be scaled up as organizations expand.”

As part of its commitment to the Kingdom, SAP is making strong progress on its 4-year SR285 million investment plan. The company aims to grow Saudi adoption of cloud-based innovations such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, machine learning, and the Internet of Things, which run on the SAP HANA in-memory platform and SAP S/4HANA real-time business suite.

To further underscore its commitment to the Kingdom, SAP has announced Riyadh as its regional headquarters for Middle East North, led by Ahmed Al-Faifi as Managing Director of the region, and Khaled Alsaleh as Managing Director for the company in Saudi Arabia.

“Khaled Alsaleh has the proven leadership skills and the in-depth Saudi experience,” said Ahmed Al-Faifi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, SAP Middle East North. “We are dedicated to expanding our Saudi investment plan, channel partner ecosystem, and corporate social responsibility initiatives to deliver new digital business models, support economic growth, and foster job creation for Saudi youth to further support the Saudi Vision 2030.”

Khaled Alsaleh has over 18 years of experience in the region’s technology sector. Previously, he served as the Regional Director of Middle East and Africa at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.