Latest news with #LEAP2024
CairoScene
15-05-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Elon Musk's Starlink & Self-Driving Cars to Launch Operations in Saudi
Elon Musk announces Starlink's expansion into Saudi Arabia's aviation and maritime sectors. Saudi Arabia has officially approved the use of Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service, for deployment across aviation and maritime sectors. The announcement was made during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, coinciding with US President Donald Trump's visit to the Kingdom - his first trip to the Middle East during his second term. Starlink, operated by Musk's aerospace company SpaceX, aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure. The approval in Saudi Arabia marks a significant expansion of the service, which is already available in over 125 countries. In addition to the Starlink announcement, Musk expressed intentions to introduce Tesla's self-driving cars - specifically his robotaxi service - to Saudi Arabia. The announcement builds on groundwork laid during LEAP 2024, the tech conference held annually in Riyadh. During the March edition, officials from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services confirmed that legislative frameworks for regulating self-driving cars were underway. The panel also discussed the integration of drones, AI, and smart sensors into transport systems. These developments align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which emphasises the diversification of the economy through technological innovation and infrastructure development. The Kingdom has been actively pursuing advancements in transportation and digital connectivity as part of its broader economic transformation goals.
Tahawul Tech
17-04-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
'We're integrating our engineering and digital capabilities to develop unique value propositions.' – Walid Gomaa, Omnix International
CNME Editor Mark Forker spoke to Walid Gomaa, Chief Executive Officer at Omnix International, in an effort to learn more about their decision to integrate their engineering and digital solutions in a bid to drive unique value propositions for their customers, the unique capabilities of its Omnix Metaverse, the impact of their AI monetization consultancy services – and how their HOT Systems are completely optimising software performance. Walid Gomaa has cultivated a reputation for himself for his ability to leading organisational reform and change during a decorated career in the technology industry across the Middle East. Gomaa has worked for some of the world's biggest technology companies such as IBM, Dell, HPE, and Huawei – and he was officially appointed as the CEO of Omnix International, in January 2024, after joining the digital solutions services provider in 2021. It could be argued that despite the fact he has an incredibly impressive CV, and that he has been in the industry for almost 40 years, that he has never been more enthused, or driven to succeed now, than at any other point in his career. The last time CNME caught up with Omnix International, was during LEAP 2024 in Riyadh, so there is plenty to catch-up on, and Gomaa began the conversation by highlighting how the company has decided to take a more unified approach when it comes to their engineering and digital solutions portfolio. 'Since we last spoke, Omnix International has embarked upon a lot of transformation internally as a company. We recognised that as a digital services provider we need to streamline our current product offerings to make sure that they are able to support the current initiatives that are happening in the marketplace. Traditionally, Omnix has two different DNAs as a company. We have an engineering DNA and a digital DNA, but what I started to see over the last 2-3 years was more of a link between the two. Ultimately, what that enabled me to do was to take some of the engineering solution offerings and some of the digital solution offerings and bundle them together to make sure that we are providing a unique value proposition to our customers that nobody else in the marketplace can do,' said Gomaa. Gomaa highlighted the creation of their Omnix Metaverse Platform, as an example of the new value proposition they are delivering since infusing their engineering and digital DNAs. 'We decided to create our own Omnix Metaverse Platform, and if you recall, initially when it came to the Metaverse space everybody was talking about wearable technology. However, what we quickly realised following consultations with our customers and partners is that you need lots of other things in addition to just wearables. You need networks, back-end integration, and ultimately you need to provide a whole host of different services, it's not enough to be focused solely on wearables. We decided to line up our offerings in a way that we don't say engineering, and digital anymore, we're now providing specific solutions that are tailored to meet the unique needs and challenges of customers, and we leverage our technology to help them address those obstacles. That's where we introduce and start to talk about the Digital Twin Metaverse, which is essentially the way in which we can integrate the virtual world with the physical world,' said Gomaa. Gomaa added how part of their own transformation and restructuring of their product and solution offerings, saw the company create solutions that helped customers with their data domain, and he also highlighted how that approach has now put them in contention to land large-scale smart infrastructure projects in both the UAE and KSA. 'We are helping customers in relation to their data domain. Data is becoming a big, big issue for a lot of customers, and naturally we decided to focus on the data domain space. As a result of that pivot, we have landed a number of sizeable projects in terms of data visualisation and data management, and this allows us to diversify our business model, and from a forward-looking perspective this also positions us differently in the market. We are competing for the big smart infrastructure projects in the marketplace now, whether that be in Saudi Arabia, or the UAE, we are putting ourselves in the frame. We want to demonstrate the unique value propositions that we can provide when it comes to smart infrastructure,' said Gomaa. AI is everywhere, and unsurprisingly Omnix have invested heavily into AI, but as Gomaa pointed out they have decided to approach it from a different angle in terms of its implementation. He highlighted the growing impact of its AI Monetisation Service. 'Look everyone is talking about AI. We are approaching it two-fold, both from a knowledge perspective, and from the fact that we have started to implement AI in different ways. Firstly, we looked at AI from a use-case based approach, which I believe is fundamental. Essentially, when we say use-case based AI approach, it means we have done this, and we know how to do it pretty well in fact. However, now we're going to implement it and scale it from a customer perspective. Now to do that, we recognised a gap, a big gap actually in relation to business users and technical users. What we started to do was create a specific service to address the issues that exist around POC and validation, and we have called it our AI Monetisation Service. It's basically a consultancy service with customers, we engage with them directly, and create ideation workshops. We identify the use-cases, we map out how we ensure that these use-cases yield a positive ROI. We want to help customers develop AI use-cases that deliver tangible business outcomes for them, and that is what the AI Monetisation Service provides,' said Gomaa. Omnix International has drawn acclaim for the performance of its HOT Systems. According to Gomaa, the HOT System has been purpose-built for industries like AEC, Media, and Manufacturing — which is driving higher productivity and lower operational costs. 'The inception of our HOT System was driven by a customer requirement. We are dealing with engineers across every domain, but these engineers are using very heavy software on their machines, and we witnessed first-hand the struggles they were encountering when they were trying to open a model. I mean in many cases it was taking them 2 hours to open a specific model. Now if we can reduce this process from 2 hours, to say around 15 minutes, then I can give these engineers back 75% of their time. This was the starting point for us, but we decided to do a lot a of R&D around it, and we quickly discovered that it was not going to be enough to bring CPUs and GPUs and bundle them together in the hope that the system will perform better. We realised that we needed to understand the path of the software within the machine, so with that in mind, it became evident that the software needs to be optimised. The O in the word HOT, stands for optimisation. We are optimising the path of the software in the machine to make sure the performance is where it should be,' said Gomaa. Gomaa stressed that HOT is a breakthrough solution that incredibly delivers up to 30% better performance for 3D designers, CAD/BIM engineers, simulation developers, and content creators. 'We want optimise performance. We've done the benchmarks for the customers, and they can see the value we are delivering in terms of performance. We are partnered with a major player from the construction industry, who has over 500 machines in operation. Now the unique selling point we have is the fact that other vendors like Dell and HP will have machines that are optimised, and they are extremely powerful in terms of CPU and TPU, but they're not optimised when you run the software and set the benchmarks. We deliver a 30% result in terms of higher performance,' said Gomaa. The dial of the conversation turned back to the data pipeline that is needed for digital transformation, and as Gomaa pointed out if the data is incorrect then the AI business use-case being pushed forward is going to be completely redundant. 'The entire technology landscape is fixated on AI, and rightly so, and a huge element within the AI conversation is the role of data analytics. However, when its comes to AI, if the data is either incorrect, or inconsistent, then it is going to be useless. So, businesses need to go back to the drawing board to ensure that their data is correct. And this is why at Omnix, we talk so much about the concept of the data pipeline and the need for it, any engagement we have with customers we advocate for the data pipeline approach. You have to understand the data in the various different stages in that data pipeline, and you need to have the right tools and solutions to help you on that data pipeline journey. The first part of the process is to have the right data framework, data management and data governance models in place, because you have to understand who is using the data, and who is actually authorised to change the data,' said Gomaa. Gomaa concluded a superb discussion that highlighting the key role the start-up ecosystem will play in terms of helping businesses with their data pipeline. 'When we were looking at the marketplace, we weren't just looking at the major vendors, we scanned the start-up ecosystem because there are some brilliant start-ups producing some great output when it comes to the data pipeline space. When you look at solutions, I'd advise businesses to not only look at the large vendors, because some of the start-ups have the solutions that are a perfect fit for many enterprises about to start on their data pipeline. The data pipeline starts with data collection, so you need comprehensive data collection engines, and again, that's where AI enters the game, because these collection engines are now becoming powered by AI,' said Gomaa.
Zawya
12-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ericsson and Mobily conclude successful quality-on-service APIs proof-of-concept for external application developers
This proof of concept showcases Mobily's network readiness for allowing external application developers to innovate and build robust services on top of Mobily's network. This initiative showcases a commitment to enhancing customer experiences, driving monetization opportunities, and aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has announced the successful completion of a proof of concept (PoC) demonstrating Quality-on- Service (QoS) capability exposure on Mobily's 4G and 5G networks. This innovative collaboration reflects both companies' commitment to fostering an ecosystem of digital innovation supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The PoC is a result of a memorandum of understanding signed at LEAP 2024 and involved enabling Quality-of-Service Application Programming Interfaces (QoS APIs) on Ericsson's Cloud Core Exposure Server (CCES), integrated with Ericsson's Policy Controller. This advancement demonstrates Mobily's readiness to allow external application developers to create robust services on its network, significantly enhancing user experience and driving new monetization opportunities. Omar Al Omar, Chief Network Officer at Mobily, says: 'With this new collaborative milestone, we are taking significant steps towards building a more programmable network. Our collaboration with Ericsson will empower application developers and enterprises to innovate and provide differentiated services that enhance customer experiences.' Håkan Cervell, Vice President and Head of Ericsson Saudi Arabia at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: 'Partnering with Mobily to demonstrate these capabilities highlights Ericsson's commitment to driving innovation in the telecommunications industry. Quality-on-Service capability will enable external application developers to offer enhanced connectivity experiences, showcasing the limitless potential of 5G networks.' According to a recent Ericsson ConsumerLab survey, 48 percent of 5G users in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are interested in paying more for differentiated connectivity that guarantees better performance for essential tasks. This collaboration aims to tap into that demand, driving innovation across sectors such as media and entertainment, cloud gaming, computer vision, and remote machine control. Ericsson and Mobily are dedicated to advancing the Saudi telecommunications landscape, continuously driving innovation to enhance services for customers across the region. The long-standing partnership is rooted in a shared vision of fostering a robust telecom ecosystem that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, paving the way for a more connected future. ABOUT ERICSSON: Ericsson's high-performing networks provide connectivity for billions of people every day. For nearly 150 years, we've been pioneers in creating technology for communication. We offer mobile communication and connectivity solutions for service providers and enterprises.
Arab News
10-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistani firms eye $50 million business deals at LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani tech companies participating in the four-day LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh are hopeful of attracting business deals worth $50 million at the global tech event, the head of Pakistani software producers' association said on Sunday. The fourth edition of LEAP, recognized as Saudi Arabia's award-winning global technology event, opened on Sunday and will continue till Feb. 12, for which entrepreneurs, investors and startups have converged in Riyadh to present their products to an anticipated audience of over 170,000 visitors. It follows last year's record-breaking LEAP 2024, which saw $13.4 billion in investments and project commitments. Under the theme 'Into New Worlds,' LEAP 2025 aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the tech sector. Pakistan recorded the highest-ever monthly IT exports of $348 million in Dec. 2024, up by 15 percent year-on-year and 12 percent month-on-month, according to official data. The LEAP event offers Pakistani firms a platform to collaborate with stakeholders, explore business opportunities and showcase Pakistan's diverse IT exports, including software development, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, fintech, gaming and robotics. 'This year, we have one of the largest delegations ever at LEAP, with over 100 companies and more than 1,000 delegates participating,' Sajjad Mustafa Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), told Arab News over the phone from Riyadh. 'With this strong presence at LEAP, we expect to double our business this year and generate $50 million in deals.' Pakistani IT companies continue to maintain a strong presence in the Kingdom and this year some of the biggest names, including Systems Limited, Abacus and Excellence Delivered, are participating in the mega tech event, according to the P@SHA chairman. In addition, several startups, around 20 companies sponsored by P@SHA, and a few more sponsored by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) are attending the event, while some Pakistani firms have joined independently. Syed said Saudi investors 'responded positively' to Pakistani companies during a meeting of the Pakistan-Saudi Business Forum that was held ahead of the LEAP inauguration. 'There is growing excitement about Pakistan's IT industry, which has now firmly arrived on the global stage,' he said. 'We are no longer at the startup or entry level rather we are now a recognized force in the global tech landscape, and this recognition is evident in Saudi Arabia.' Syed said Pakistan's tech solutions were 'at par with the best in the world, if not superior.' 'Our companies are making strides in high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity,' he added. Former P@SHA chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan, whose e-solutions company A2Z Creatorz is participating in LEAP, said the event has enabled many Pakistani firms to establish businesses in the Kingdom over the past few years. 'Our participation in LEAP 2024 was a huge success as around 25 Pakistani companies registered in the Kingdom after that and secured some good business deals,' he told Arab News. 'This year, we hope more companies will have the opportunity to register in the Kingdom through collaborations with Saudi firms and secure significant business by establishing offices in Saudi Arabia.' Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq, said the LEAP conference has developed into one of the foremost global IT events since 2022. 'The participation of over 100 Pakistani IT companies at LEAP 2025 is a testament to Pakistan's growing strength in the global technology sector,' he said. He said the Pakistani IT industry is offering cutting-edge solutions in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and software development, making Pakistan a key player in digital transformation. 'To further strengthen collaboration and engagement, I had the pleasure of hosting a networking dinner in Riyadh on February 8, bringing together over 400 distinguished guests, including business leaders, investors, and technology experts,' he said, adding that Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 presents immense opportunities and Pakistan is committed to fostering deeper cooperation through innovation in the region. The LEAP tech conference plays a critical role in Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a global technology hub, aligning with its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy. As part of the initiative, the Kingdom has pledged $100 billion toward advancing its technology sector. LEAP 2025 will debut Tech Arena, a platform for emerging innovations, featuring a 'Live TV' stage hosted by BBC Click's Lara Lewington and Spencer Kelly. It is one of two new segments at LEAP 2025, alongside the SportsTech stage, supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 for innovation and technological growth. Visitors will explore AI, mixed reality, fashion tech, and brain-computer interfaces. Key highlights include Anouk Wipprecht's Tech Couture exhibit, Adobe's 'Project Primrose' digital dress technology, and Aramco-backed Terra Drone's long-range medical delivery system. Saudi oil giant Aramco will also showcase SARA, an AI-driven assistant for decision-making. Engine VR will present its Golden Gloves VR boxing platform with live demos by UFC fighter Andrew Sanchez, while Alwaleed Philanthropies will showcase its Atlai AI program to support global deforestation monitoring. XPANCEO will introduce smart contact lenses with integrated computing.
Arab News
09-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
IBM expands AI workforce in Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030: CEO
RIYADH: US-based tech giant IBM employs a majority of Saudi nationals at its artificial intelligence lab in the Kingdom, underscoring the nation's commitment to developing local talent. It was disclosed during a panel titled 'Bringing Tech to Life' on the opening day of LEAP 2025, Riyadh's flagship technology event, held from Feb. 9-12 under the theme 'Into New Worlds.' Speaking at the discussion, IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna said: 'Over 70 percent of our hires in (IBM's AI and R&D lab) are Saudi nationals, not expats.' Launched at LEAP 2024, IBM's $200 million Software Lab in Riyadh supports Vision 2030 by driving digital innovation, job creation, and global tech solutions, aligning with the Kingdom's pledge to invest $100 billion in its technology sector. Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha, addressing industry leaders and aspiring innovators, stressed the importance of understanding market shifts. 'I think no leader in the industry can really help educate all of us — leaders in the room, the youth, the women, the talent — about picking up market transitions and where the market is heading,' he said. Krishna acknowledged the growing excitement around AI but noted that for numerical purposes the technology has been in use for two decades. He also predicted a seismic shift in computing capabilities, with quantum computing expected to achieve a major breakthrough within the next two to three years. 'In three to five years, we will see something amazing on quantum computers,' he added. A key transformation Krishna highlighted was in AI training costs, forecasting a dramatic reduction. 'I believe the cost of training will become 1 percent — one over 100 of what it used to be. DeepSeek was a proof point of that,' he noted. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm, gained rapid attention with its R1 large language model, released on Jan. 20 at a fraction of typical development costs. Offered under an open-source license, DeepSeek-R1 quickly soared in popularity, with its AI assistant app topping Apple's App Store and surpassing OpenAI's ChatGPT. Its success triggered a stock market shakeup as investors reevaluated major US AI companies. While large general-purpose AI models currently dominate the field, Krishna emphasized the potential of domain-specific models, which today account for just 1 percent of usage. 'All the fascination is with these large models that serve everybody, but we believe in the next three to four years, domain-specific models will make up over half of all deployed models,' he said. LEAP 2025 aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the tech sector. The event plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's goal of becoming a global technology hub, in line with Vision 2030's economic diversification strategy.
