Khobar Governorate Climbs 38 Places in 2025 Smart City Index
Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Region and Chairman of the Sharqia Development Authority, stated that Khobar's rise in the rankings reflects the Kingdom's ambitious vision to transform its cities into world-class urban models.
Moreover, Prince Saud emphasized that this achievement is the result of close cooperation between public and private sectors, working together to build a technologically advanced, economically sustainable, and investment-friendly environment. He reaffirmed his strong support for continuing this development journey and achieving even greater milestones.
Omar bin Saleh Al-Abdullatif, CEO of the Sharqia Development Authority, highlighted that Khobar's improved ranking illustrates the Kingdom's broader advancements across multiple sectors. He also pointed to the city's attractive environment for talent and professionals, ecological diversity, and robust infrastructure—both physical and digital. He credited the progress to ongoing investments in modern technology integration across health, education, transport, culture, and governance.
Related Topics:
Diriyah Company, Giza Systems Partner on Smart City Initiative
KAFD Enhances Smart City Sustainability, Security in New Strategic Partnership
Saudi Expands Adoption of Smart City Technology in Riyadh
SDAIA Marks Its Presence at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona
Short link :
Post Views: 19
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia Launches New Industrial Projects in Eastern Province
Saudi Arabia inaugurated new industrial projects in Dammam on Thursday, as Eastern Province Governor Prince Saud bin Naif opened two major facilities in the city's First and Second Industrial Zones. The launch was attended by Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef, who also chairs the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), and MODON CEO Majed Al-Argoubi. Prince Saud highlighted the rapid growth in the Kingdom's industrial sector, attributing it to strong government backing aligned with Vision 2030 objectives to enhance local content, boost competitiveness, and solidify the Eastern Province's status as a key industrial hub. Multi-Storey and Ready-Built Factories The projects include an eight-storey multi-purpose factory complex in Dammam's First Industrial City, housing 78 industrial units ranging between 156 and 251 square meters. The facility aims to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs with modern infrastructure, consultancy, and training services in a flexible environment designed to foster expansion and innovation. In the Second Industrial City, Prince Saud also inaugurated a ready-built factory project comprising 84 units with floor spaces of 700 and 1,500 square meters, spanning more than 92,000 square meters in total. This development targets light industries, offering opportunities for investors in sectors such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, electrical goods, electronics, and 3D printing. Among the newly opened projects was a production plant for food and beverage giant PepsiCo. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ahmed El-Sheikh, PepsiCo's President for the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, said the company's latest investment reflected growing confidence in the Saudi market, fueled by Vision 2030 reforms. 'Saudi Arabia has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, making it a highly competitive and attractive investment destination,' he said. 'Modernized regulations, streamlined procedures, and robust incentives have opened the door to greater growth and innovation.' El-Sheikh noted that PepsiCo's recent expansions—including its Dammam plant and the launch of a regional headquarters in Riyadh—underscore the Kingdom's strategic role in the company's regional operations. The Dammam factory is now one of PepsiCo's most advanced production sites in the region, with plans to export more than 8,600 tons of products across the Middle East this year. Boost from Logistics and Tech Infrastructure 'Logistical and infrastructure upgrades under Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) have significantly improved our operational efficiency,' El-Sheikh said. He cited the implementation of technologies such as a Warehouse Management System (WMS) and a Transport Control Tower (TCT), enabling real-time tracking, better inventory control, and lower operating costs. These advances have enhanced PepsiCo's delivery speed to regional markets and improved customer experience. Saudi Arabia's geographic location also plays a pivotal role, enabling efficient distribution via well-developed land, sea, and air networks. The Dammam facility has achieved a 84.3% Saudization rate, with women making up more than 21% of the workforce. The expansion has created 30 new jobs in the supply chain, offering fresh opportunities for Saudi youth. PepsiCo sources 100% of the potatoes used in its snack products from Saudi farms, reinforcing local food security and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, such as drip irrigation, which has reduced water consumption by 30% compared to 2015 levels. The company also procures most of its packaging materials domestically, supporting local manufacturers and bolstering the SME ecosystem. Focus on Innovation and Industry 4.0 'The Saudi snack food market is highly competitive and constantly growing, which pushes us to keep innovating and meeting evolving consumer demands,' El-Sheikh added. PepsiCo is also integrating Industry 4.0 technologies—including advanced digital systems, solar panels, and water recycling solutions—to enhance operational efficiency and minimize environmental impact. The latest expansion, valued at SAR 300 million ($80 million), has increased the plant's production capacity by 19,000 metric tons. The company plans to build on this momentum by boosting local sourcing, improving operational performance, and expanding its use of smart manufacturing technologies.
Argaam
20-07-2025
- Argaam
Eastern Province Governor launches master plans for three airports
Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, unveils today, July 20, the master plan for King Fahd International Airport, along with its new corporate identity. This is in addition to launching the master plans for the airports of Al-Ahsa and Al-Qaisumah. The Prince also rolls out the strategic plan for Dammam Airports and inaugurates a package of integrated development projects with a total value exceeding SAR 1.6 billion. The package includes the execution of 77 development projects aimed at upgrading infrastructure and enhancing the passenger experience, in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals for the aviation sector.
Leaders
10-07-2025
- Leaders
Al-Ahsa Launches First Direct Flight to Turkey
Al-Ahsa's Governor Prince Saud bin Talal has launched the first seasonal direct flight between Al-Ahsa International Airport and Rize–Artvin International Airport in Turkey, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Attended by various senior officials, the inauguration ceremony represented a strong collaboration between Turkish Airlines and Al Ghazal Travel and Tourism Agency. The move aligns with Al-Ahsa International Airport's expansion plan to foster air connectivity and multiply international travel options for passengers from the governorate and Eastern Region. Moreover, it reflects the ongoing efforts of the Al-Ahsa Development Authority to develop Al-Ahsa International Airport and boost its services. The launching also mirrors the governorate's commitment to achieving the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives of elevating the tourism and economic sectors and satisfying the needs of Al-Ahsa people for direct international flights from their local airport. Prince Saud commended all government and private entities that significantly contributed to the launch of these flights with Turkey, noting the importance of bolstering integration between various sectors across Al-Ahsa. In this context, he stressed that the current success further solidifies Al-Ahsa International Airport's position as a growing regional hub for air transport. Related Topics: Flynas to Begin Direct Flights to Damascus on June 5 AlUla Welcomes 1st Direct Flight From Royal Jordanian Airlines Syria Resumes Direct Flights with UAE Short link :
