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Samsung Launches SmartThings Pro For Gulf’s B2B Sector
The platform offers AI-driven automation to schools, offices, and hotels, optimizing cooling and energy use while supporting smart city goals.

Samsung Gulf Electronics has introduced SmartThings Pro, an advanced smart technology platform designed to tackle the unique challenges faced by businesses operating in an extreme climate and fast-moving market. Expanding on the Korean tech giant’s existing smart home innovations, SmartThings Pro brings enhanced automation, efficiency, and intelligent management to commercial and public sector spaces.
Ayman Al Hamalawi, Director and Head of the Air Conditioning Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, emphasized the platform’s impact: “SmartThings Pro represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of smart building management across the region. We have developed this platform with a deep understanding of the region’s specific challenges, particularly in managing cooling efficiency and energy consumption in our extreme climate. SmartThings Pro not only addresses these challenges head-on but also aligns with the ambitious sustainability goals and smart city initiatives of the GCC nations”.
Samsung is stepping up its game by offering enterprise-grade solutions to tackle the Gulf’s pressing concerns — rising temperatures, high energy consumption, and increasingly ambitious sustainability requirements. As global temperatures climb, businesses enter a frustrating cycle: increased cooling demands lead to higher energy use and therefore, greater carbon emissions.
SmartThings Pro counters this problem with an AI-powered HVAC management system, optimizing cooling performance while minimizing electricity consumption, especially during the region’s scorching summer months. The feature is known as “proactive loss detection and energy optimization” which offers detailed, location-based reports, enabling businesses to fine-tune their operations and cut unnecessary energy expenses.
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Like its home automation cousin, the SmartThings Pro platform seamlessly integrates multiple devices within commercial environments like hotels and office buildings. It enables centralized management of air conditioning, humidity levels, lighting, security cameras, smart signage, temperature controls, and even televisions. Additionally, SmartThings Pro supports third-party devices such as locks, speakers, and sensors, offering a comprehensive automation solution.
Overall, SmartThings Pro represents a major leap forward in commercial IoT technology, offering Gulf enterprises a competitive edge through advanced automation and sustainability-focused solutions. By combining Samsung’s AI expertise with real-world business demands, it creates an adaptable ecosystem that evolves with company needs. Enterprise clients also gain access to customizable APIs for seamless integration, unlocking smarter resource management.
News
Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch
Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.
Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.
“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.
The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.
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However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.
In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.
With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.
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