Latest news with #AbdullahAlSwaha
Arab News
26-05-2025
- Arab News
Saudi communications minister inspects telecom services for Hajj pilgrims
RIYADH: The Saudi minister of communications and information technology has been reviewing preparations for the provision of telecommunications services to pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj season. Abdullah Al-Swaha was accompanied by Haytham Al-Ohali, acting governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, on a tour of holy sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. Al-Ohali said the commission was committed to providing reliable communication and technology services in cooperation with public and private entities. He said that there were more than 10,500 Wi-Fi access points across Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites, where 5G and 4G coverage had reached 99 percent. Mobile internet speeds reached 264Mbps in Makkah and 336Mbps in Madinah, the report said. The officials also visited King Abdulaziz International Airport, Halat Ammar Border Crossing, Yanbu Port and Jadidat Arar Border Crossing, as well as facilities operated by national telecom and tech companies Stc, Mobily, Zain and Tawal to review network performance and assess their operational and emergency plans. Al-Swaha praised their efforts to provide reliable services and highlighted their role in maintaining strong digital connectivity at the holy sites, the report said. The minister also met some of the more than 200 technology volunteers who will be working during Hajj to provide technical support. The volunteers are supported by the Awon Tech Charitable Society, which provides training in digital skills and support services in collaboration with public entities and the communications ministry. Al-Swaha commended Awon Tech's efforts to apply technology in support of Hajj operations, noting its contribution to service improvement and infrastructure support. Such initiatives would enhance the pilgrim experience and reflected the Kingdom's commitment to providing reliable and efficient services, he said.
Saudi Gazette
13-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia's AlSwaha and White House AI advisor David Sachs discuss strategic partnership
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah AlSwaha received the chief consultant of the White House for artificial intelligence and digital currencies David Sachs in Riyadh on Monday. The two parties discussed the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States in the areas of artificial and technical intelligence. During a tour of the Deep Technology Factory in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and "Grace", they met with Saudi pioneers and entrepreneurs, and reviewed pioneering projects that have the support of the innovation system in Saudi Arabia and leading American companies. The move reflects the support of the two countries for emerging companies, enabling them to grow within a flexible and stimulating digital environment. They also met with the pioneers of the Tuwaiq Academy in the fields of programming and artificial intelligence, in addition to the first Arab Muslim astronaut, Raya Branawi, and other Saudi astronauts, and discussed the growing partnership between Saudi Arabia and the American Space Agency (NASA), through cooperation agreements in space exploration tasks and scientific experiments. Cooperative models were also reviewed in digital health and sustainability, the most prominent of which is the Virtual Health Hospital — one of the largest digital hospitals in the world — which provides opportunities to cooperate with American health care institutions in developing remote diagnostic models and artificial intelligence-backed care, as well as projects in technical sustainability in partnership with American bodies working on environmental artificial intelligence, and analysis of climate visit embodies the growing integration between Saudi Arabia and the US in building a global digital and innovative economy-based on knowledge of knowledge, the development of digital infrastructure, and the empowerment of people through technology.
Saudi Gazette
21-02-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
AlSwaha at FII summit: Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner in the era of AI
Saudi Gazette report MIAMI — Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah AlSwaha affirmed that Saudi Arabia has become a strategic partner for the United States and the world in bridging digital gaps and leading the transformation toward the "smart age". In his speech at the main session of the third edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII Priority) Summit held in Miami, US, under the title 'Investing with Purpose,' AlSawaha underscored Saudi Arabia's efforts and ambitious vision to enhance global cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and emerging pointed out that Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, constituted 'the most prominent success story of the twenty-first century', with the country's digital economy reaching nearly $132 billion, contributing 50% of the regional digital economy of $260 billion. He noted the increase in the number of technical talents in Saudi Arabia from 150,000 to 381,000, a fact that reflects the rapid growth in the fields of technology and highlighted the interest of major global investors such as Oracle, Google, and Microsoft, which made Saudi Arabia one of the fastest growing technology centers in the concluded his speech by calling on the world to consider Saudi Arabia as the ideal partner to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence, expressing his confidence in the ability of international cooperation to overcome challenges and reach the stage of sustainable productivity in this field, appreciating the role of the Future Investment Initiative in bringing together thought and investment leaders to create the future of the sidelines of the summit, Al-Sawaha met with Oracle CEO Safra Ada Katz to discuss expanding the partnership in the fields of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and its role in supporting the digital economy in Saudi Arabia. He also met with NEA CEO Tony Florence to discuss supporting tech entrepreneurs and stimulating investment in tech and innovation startups in Saudi Arabia.
Zawya
10-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia represents 50% of region's digital economy – Al Swaha at LEAP 2025
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia represents 50% of the region's digital economy, which hiked by 73% to reach $260 billion, Abdullah Al Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said. Al Swaha's remarks came on the sidelines of the fourth edition of the LEAP conference, which is being held at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center under the theme 'Into New Worlds'. He added that Saudi Arabia registered a jump in tech professionals from 150,000 to 381,000, adding that the Kingdom could have ranked the fifth-largest tech hub in Europe if it was part of the European Union (EU). Unicorn startups, private companies with a valuation over $1 billion, have grown to 15 in the region, according to the Saudi minister. He noted that unicorn startups in Saudi Arabia increased from two to seven. The minister indicated that the digital economy achieved $16 trillion worldwide, but so far, there are 2.6 billion people outside this digital economy, including 100 million in the global North and 2.5 billion in the global South. On the first day of the conference, Saudi and global tech companies announced investments at a total value of $14.85 billion.
