Saudi National Digitization Unit Highlighted the Importance of Smart City Innovations at GITEX

The Saudi National Digitization Unit highlighted the importance of the Smart Cities innovations being showcased by digital transformation enablers such as SAP at GITEX Technology Week to transform urban life, real estate, and hospitality.

Across the Kingdom, government agencies are rapidly adopting cloud-based solutions, which are driving efficiency and new government services models. As a result, Saudi Vision 2030 is enabling nationwide digital transformation and driving the goal of increasing the non-oil government revenue from SAR 163 billion to SAR 1 Trillion by 2030.

As the Internet of Things era connects people and processes together, SAP is demonstrating how its SAP Leonardo solutions and Future Cities examples can enhance the Kingdom’s quality of life:

In Smart Cities, governments can harness the power of spatial innovations -- satellites in the sky and sensors on the ground -- to better manage urban life. Cities can enhance ports capacity, parking space allocation, and measurement of soil potential in harvesting crops.

As the Saudi real estate market booms, “Live Real Estate” can transform the experience for building owners, managers, service technicians, and banks. Solutions powered by blockchain can enhance the tenancy process from the building survey, through contract leasing and building management.

“The National Digitization Unit is a crucial driver in the Kingdom’s journey to the future, guided by the national digital vision roadmap to put Saudi Arabia at the forefront of digital nations. Our aim is help make the Kingdom a pioneering and diversified economy that builds on the nation’s talent and innovative spirit. Leading technology players such as SAP are our key partners in this process as we leverage global and regional partnerships to drive rapid and sustainable national digital transformation, utilizing cross sector enabling policies and platforms to enhance the Kingdom’s digital ecosystem.” Said Deemah Al-Yahya, Acting CEO of the National Digitization Unit.

With the Kingdom boosting tourism, “Live Hospitality” solutions can deliver a seamless end-to-end visitor experience. Solutions include targeted marketing campaigns, virtual tours, personalized room settings, and business apps with KPIs to measure hotel performance.

“The Saudi government is a global leader in transitioning from being a services provider to a services enabler, and re-imagining government models, processes, and workplaces. Saudi Vision 2030 can lead to exciting innovations such as personalized and incentivized citizen services, integrating wearables on government workers, and using artificial intelligence for predictive citizen services,” said Ahmed Al-Faifi, Managing Director, SAP Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen.

GITEX continues SAP’s momentum from the 4-year SAR 285 million Saudi investment plan and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. SAP continues to advance plans to launch an SAP Cloud Hub in the Kingdom in the coming months.