The Biggest News from LEAP 2024
The Kingdom is committed to becoming an innovation hub. Here’s taking a look at the tech, enterprise and partnerships that are making that a quick reality.
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Saudi Arabia firmly established itself as a leading technology and innovation hub in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at LEAP 2024. During the opening day of LEAP 2024, prominent global technology giants showcased their remarkable commitment by pledging an astounding $11.9 billion investment in Saudi Arabia.
These substantial commitments underscore the kingdom’s growing importance as a digital powerhouse, drawing attention from major players in the tech industry. The kingdom’s strategic location, supportive regulatory environment, and commitment to digital transformation have positioned it as a key player in the MENA region’s technology landscape, driving economic growth and fostering innovation across various sectors.
Here are the top 10 announcements from LEAP 2024.
Aramco Builds AI Capabilities
Aramco Digital and Groq have unveiled their intentions to construct the most extensive artificial intelligence (AI) computing facility globally. Aramco Digital has also joined forces with LTIMindtree to establish a $45.8 million IT services hub in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, it has teamed up with Intel to establish Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) development centre, aiming to foster innovation and technological advancement.
Saudi Arabia to Boost Gaming, esports Sectors
The National Development Fund (NDF) and the Social Development Bank (SDB) have collaborated to enhance the gaming and Esports sector. They have recently signed two agreements to create two venture funds totalling SAR450 million ($120 million) to support this initiative.
Riyadh Air To Enhance Travel Interactions
The airline will collaborate with a diverse array of travel partners, locally and internationally, enabling guests to seamlessly oversee their entire travel journey via its digital platforms. Serving as the primary systems integrator, IBM Consulting will harness Adobe’s Experience Cloud technologies to craft a unified and personalised travel experience for Riyadh Air‘s guests. The airline will use Adobe Sensei GenAI capabilities within Adobe Experience Cloud to create the vast variations of on-brand copy required to deliver personalised campaigns at scale.
GEOSA to Transform Citizen Experience with Avaya
The General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GEOSA) in Saudi Arabia has revealed a strategic collaboration with Avaya, a renowned global provider of customer experience solutions, as part of its intensified focus on customer care. Central to this transformation is GEOSA’s initiative to deploy a cutting-edge contact centre, leveraging Avaya technology and seamlessly integrating it with an advanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution.
SAP Launches Innovation Hub
SAP is ramping up its commitment to Saudi Arabia, by inaugurating the first-ever regional SAP Innovation Hub in the Kingdom. It opens a SAP Experience Center in Khobar to drive innovation initiatives with customers and partners. With an emphasis on generating business value through connectivity, collaboration, and co-creation, the objective is to enhance awareness of digital trends across various global industries.
A New and Improved Contact Centre Vision
Genesys and stc pay have formed a strategic alliance to revolutionise the contact centre environment across multiple engagement channels. This partnership is tailored to provide an outstanding experience for both customers and employees, while also establishing a strong business and technological framework for STC Pay as it maintains its leadership and innovation in the banking sector.
PayTabs Group Integration for Seamless National Payment
PayTabs Group has integrated key national payment methods, enhancing its presence in Saudi Arabia and expanding services to government entities, financial institutions, fintech companies, and organisations overseeing major projects. This advancement allows efficient and secure payment processing and collection. PayTabs now enables its technology partners to accept payments via SADAD, contributing to the kingdom’s digital transformation.
Chinese Brand HONOR Accelerates Business
HONOR, a Chinese consumer electronics brand established in Saudi Arabia, disclosed plans for regional expansion, backed by a $100 million investment. iT launched its flagship phone Magic6 Pro, marking a significant step in their business expansion in the Kingdom. The latest flagship smartphone comes with MagicOS 8.0, featuring fully integrated platform-level AI and the industry’s first intent-based user interface (IUI).
New Capabilities through APIs
Ericsson and Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to showcase Mobily’s network capabilities to enterprises and developers in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration will allow Mobily to effortlessly activate and expose new capabilities through APIs, enhancing the programmability and adaptability of connectivity services to meet diverse needs. Exposing APIs presents an opportunity for Mobily to enhance its role in the enterprise ecosystem by enabling new use cases and applications.
SDAIA’s Arabic Large Language Model (ALLaM) iNTEGRATES into IBM’s WatsonX
IBM and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) have signed an MoU to integrate SDAIA’s Arabic Large Language Model (ALLaM) into IBM’s WatsonX enterprise AI and data platform. This integration is expected to broaden the model’s usage across various enterprises and government entities in the Kingdom and beyond, offering built-in AI governance for clients deploying generative AI through ALLaM powered by WatsonX.
