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IDC To Explore Future Of Saudi Digital Economy At CIO Summit

The event will take place at the Fairmont Riyadh on September 13-14 and bring together IT and telecom leaders, digital pioneers, and industry thought leaders.

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1 year ago

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idc to explore future of saudi digital economy at cio summit

Spurred by an influx of foreign investment and a $7 trillion development plan for Saudi Arabia’s giga projects, ICT spending in the Kingdom is set to top $34.5 billion this year. The government sector will be the country’s largest IT spender in 2023, with the budget for AI, IoT, cybersecurity, and data analytics exceeding $574 million.

These issues will sit at the heart of this year’s IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit, taking place at the Fairmont Riyadh on September 13-14. Under the theme of “Enabling the Digital Economy’s Leaders”, the event will bring together IT and telecom leaders, digital pioneers, regulators, and industry thought leaders. A panel of expert speakers will discuss the current state of the Saudi digital economy, assessing its impact on citizens, customers, and employees while outlining best practices and strategies to drive future success.

“To harness the full potential and widespread benefits of the digital economy, governments and businesses must implement strategies to measure and cultivate it,” said Jyoti Lalchandani, IDC’s group vice president and regional managing director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. “Creating regulatory environments and nurturing talent will be critical to success. Today, technology plays an ever-increasing role in enabling, measuring, and reporting on sustainability initiatives and diversity and inclusion drives, with government and business leaders prioritizing these issues on their digital agendas”.

Also Read: Abu Dhabi Hospital To Use Cutting-Edge Robot For Complex Surgeries

IDC chief research officer, Meredith Whalen, will open the summit with a keynote titled “Strategies for the CIO and Enterprise Innovation”, where she will highlight IDC’s latest research on the move toward industry ecosystem innovation and tech decentralization.

“CIOs are no longer just technology leaders,” says Whalen. “They are strategic partners who have a critical role to play in driving enterprise-wide growth, and it is important that they fully understand what needs to be done now and in the future to create an environment for long-term sustainable innovation. The IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit is the perfect place for CIOs to learn from their peers, network with industry leaders, and get the insights they need to succeed in the digital age”.

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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.

Published

5 days ago

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December 17, 2024

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uae prepares to launch two satellites thuraya-2 and mbz-sat

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.

The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.

Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.

Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.

Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.

Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth

The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.

The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.

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