Latest news with #AlOhali
Saudi Gazette
10-07-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
At Geneva World Summit, Saudi Arabia highlights great strides in digital leadership
Saudi Gazette report GENEVA — Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Acting Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Haytham AlOhali highlighted, while attending the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, Saudi Arabia's great strides in digital leadership. Speaking before senior officials and experts representing 194 countries, he reaffirmed the Kingdom's dedication in supporting the summit's goals and enhancing the role of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in fostering inclusive and sustainable digital communities. AlOhali showcased Saudi Arabia's progress in advancing the ITU's strategic objectives, referencing key global indicators that reflect the Kingdom's success in the digital domain. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in the ICT Development Index issued by ITU, reflecting the ongoing development in the ICT sector. He noted that Saudi Arabia is now among the global leaders in providing digital government services and has achieved sixth place globally in the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI) in 2024. The deputy minister showcased the Kingdom's robust ICT infrastructure, as the digital economy reached $132 billion in 2024, representing 15 percent of the GDP and half of the region's digital economy. During the AI World Summit, AlOhali also participated in the "Crafting a well-balanced, pro-innovation regulatory framework" session, during which he emphasized that the foundation of a sustainable AI ecosystem lies in investing in human capital, infrastructure, and clear standards. "Today, we possess the largest technical workforce in the region, comprising over 381,000 specialists, with an annual growth rate of 8.8 percent compared to 350,000 in 2023. We began our journey in 2018 with an investment exceeding $25 billion in digital infrastructure in partnership with the private sector, which enabled the Kingdom to top the 2025 ICT Development Index," he said. AlOhali noted that Saudi Arabia is scaling up its investments through strategic alliances with major global AI companies, including AMD, AWS, and Qualcomm, in addition to a strategic partnership with NVIDIA to establish a 500MW data center. 'The launch of 'Humain' marks the creation of a regional and global AI powerhouse, backed by robust infrastructure and cloud computing. These initiatives reflect the Kingdom's strong commitment to fostering a thriving AI ecosystem and reinforcing its position as a global hub for sustainable innovation,' he added.
Leaders
10-07-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Showcases Digital Leadership at WSIS 2025
During the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia highlighted its advancements in digital transformation and reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting the summit's goals. The Kingdom also emphasized its active role in enhancing the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) mission of building inclusive and sustainable digital communities worldwide. Strong Representation, Strategic Vision Saudi Arabia's delegation was led by Vice Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Acting Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Haytham AlOhali. Addressing officials and digital experts from 194 countries, AlOhali shared the Kingdom's success in advancing ITU's strategic objectives and presented key indicators reflecting its global digital achievements. Leading in Global Digital Rankings AlOhali highlighted that Saudi Arabia ranked first globally on the ITU's ICT Development Index, underscoring the country's rapid progress in the ICT sector. He also noted that the Kingdom secured sixth place globally in the 2024 United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI), reflecting its leadership in delivering digital government services. Digital Economy Growth, Infrastructure Investment The Vice Minister emphasized the strength of Saudi Arabia's digital infrastructure, noting that the Kingdom's digital economy reached $132 billion in 2024—accounting for 15% of GDP and representing half of the region's total digital economy. He also discussed the nation's early investment efforts, which began in 2018 with over $25 billion channeled into digital infrastructure through public-private partnerships. These efforts helped position the Kingdom at the top of the 2025 ICT Development Index. Commitment to AI, Pro-Innovation Policies During the AI for Good Global Summit, AlOhali participated in the session titled 'Crafting a Well-Balanced, Pro-Innovation Regulatory Framework.' He stressed that building a sustainable AI ecosystem requires robust investment in human capital, infrastructure, and the establishment of clear standards. He revealed that Saudi Arabia now boasts the largest technical workforce in the region, with more than 381,000 specialists in 2024—an 8.8% annual growth from 350,000 in 2023. Strategic Partnerships in AI, Emerging Technologies To accelerate AI adoption, Saudi Arabia is expanding its partnerships with leading global tech firms such as AMD, AWS, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA. A major milestone includes a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA to develop a 500MW data center, a key enabler of large-scale AI applications. Additionally, the Kingdom launched 'Humain,' a new initiative aimed at creating a regional and global AI powerhouse, backed by advanced infrastructure and cloud computing capabilities. These developments reflect Saudi Arabia's determination to position itself as a global center for sustainable innovation in AI and digital technologies. Related Topics: Participants of International AI Olympiad Undergo Theoretical, Practical Tests Saudi Arabia Hosts Inaugural Edition of International AI Olympiad Saudi Delegation Awaits ISEF 2025 Results Short link : Post Views: 6
Saudi Gazette
06-07-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia reaffirms dedication to achieving equitable and sustainable digital development
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia, represented by Acting Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Eng. Haytham AlOhali participated in the annual meeting of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. This year's session marked a special edition celebrating 15 years since the commission's establishment. Saudi Arabia's participation reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing digital transformation, fostering global digital economic growth, bridging the digital divide, and expanding access to communication and technology services. Eng. AlOhali reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's dedication to achieving equitable and sustainable digital development and praised the Broadband Commission's continued support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted that CST operates as a 5G regulator, as recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and leads a range of national and global initiatives in collaboration with international partners to help realize shared objectives. He emphasized that the Kingdom's national digital strategy aligns closely with the ITU's 'Connect 2030' vision. He also referenced ongoing cooperation with the ITU to update the study titled Connecting Humanity Through Sustainable, Affordable, and Innovative Solutions, which aims to identify connectivity gaps and develop practical approaches to achieving universal and affordable internet access. AlOhali highlighted the success of the Open Access Initiative, which enabled infrastructure sharing among telecom providers and extended fiber-optic connections to more than 3.9 million homes—surpassing earlier targets. He further noted the Kingdom's continued investment in non-terrestrial network technologies, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), to extend coverage to underserved areas. Regionally, he pointed to Saudi Arabia's leadership in launching the 'Digital Sustainability Tool' in cooperation with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), as well as its role in leading the Circular Digital Economy track under the ITU's Green Digital Action initiative. While stressing that closing the digital divide remains one of the most pressing global challenges, AlOhali called for greater collaboration and joint efforts to achieve inclusive digital development.
Saudi Gazette
17-06-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia announces its candidacy to ITU Council's membership
Saudi Gazette report GENEVA — Saudi Arabia announced its candidacy to retain its membership in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council. The announcement was made during the 2025 ITU Council session held in Geneva, Switzerland. Addressing the council meeting on Tuesday, Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Acting Governor Eng. Haytham AlOhali reaffirmed the Kingdom's pioneering role in supporting the global telecom and technology sector. Eng. AlOhali reaffirmed the Kingdom's strong commitment to international cooperation in bridging the digital divide, stressing the importance of accelerating global efforts to connect the unconnected and address the challenges of the digital and AI era. He pointed out that the world currently connects around 200 million people annually, and at this pace, it would take more than 13 years to connect the remaining 2.6 billion. This calls for an innovative approach to speed up connectivity efforts and reduce the timeframe by over 50%. 'Saudi Arabia is proud to be among the top nations that have successfully reduced the digital connectivity gap to below 1 percent. The Kingdom has also leveraged technology to create advanced and innovative solutions across sectors such as education, healthcare, energy, and public services,' he said. Eng. AlOhali affirmed that Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the ITU, introduced the AI Readiness Framework, highlighting the importance of ensuring that artificial intelligence must be inclusive, human-centered, and focused on empowering youth and women. 'By innovation and collaboration, we now have the solution to accelerate the pace of global connectivity and cut the time needed to close the digital gap by over half. This could enable us to connect the unconnected within five years or even sooner. It's not just about saving time, but about unlocking opportunities and advancing inclusive social and economic development, particularly in developing nations,' he stated. Eng. AlOhali pointed out that Saudi Arabia has significantly expanded its digital workforce, increasing the number of professionals from 150,000 in 2018 to more than 380,000 by 2024. Women's participation in the ICT sector also grew from 7 percent to 35 percent, surpassing both the global and G20 averages. The Kingdom's adoption of a forward-thinking digital regulatory framework has secured it the second spot among G20 nations in the ITU's ICT Regulatory Tracker. In addition, Saudi Arabia has launched global initiatives to enhance regulatory digital maturity in over 100 countries, emphasizing the vital role of adaptable, innovation-driven frameworks in enabling inclusive digital transformation. AlOhali emphasized that the Kingdom's digital accomplishments and innovative initiatives have been driven by the strong support and guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. He affirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to leveraging its resources and expertise to support the international and ITU's efforts in building a sustainable digital future. As part of the Kingdom's ongoing collaboration with the ITU, he announced that the Kingdom will host the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) from August 31 to September 3, 2025, in Riyadh, under the theme: 'Regulation for Sustainable Digital Development.' He invited all member states to participate in this significant forum, which highlights the Kingdom's strong relationship with the ITU and reflects its dedication to building regulatory frameworks that foster innovation, investment, and inclusive access. The ITU Council consists of 48 member states, including Saudi Arabia, out of a total of 194. The council oversees the Union's activities between Plenipotentiary Conferences (PP). Its responsibilities include: directing the ITU's tasks, ensuring the implementation of ITU policies and budgets, approving operational and financial plans, and reviewing programs, while also providing recommendations on general policies to develop the sector. This makes the council a pivotal mechanism in ensuring the efficiency and continuity of the ITU's work.
Arabian Business
13-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Saudi communication and tech sector hit $48bn last year; most popular internet times and days revealed
Saudi Arabia has witnessed a surge in the size of its communication and technology sector, with key statistics being revealed this week. The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) revealed that the size of the communications and technology market reached SR180bn ($48bn) in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent over the past five years. The announcement was made during the 11th edition of the ICT Indicators Forum 2025, held in Riyadh, in the presence of Acting CST Governor Eng. Haitham Al-Ohali. Saudi tech sector The event, attended by leading experts and sector leaders, featured five key presentations along with a panel discussion reviewing the financial performance of the Kingdom's communications and technology sector. CST General Manager of Regulations Eng. Thamer AlKhwaiter revealed that the median mobile internet speed in the Kingdom has reached 129mbps, ranking the fourth among G20 countries in 2024. Mobile telecommunications subscriptions have grown to 68.2m, with an annual growth rate of 7 per cent. He also disclosed that the space market volume reached approximately SR7.1bn ($1.9bn) in 2024. In a further presentation, Al Jazira Capital's Head of Research Jassim AlJubran delivered a comprehensive financial analysis of the sector. He reported that the total assets of ICT-listed companies in the Kingdom have reached SR255bn ($68bn), with total revenues amounting to SR128bn ($34.1bn) and a market cap of SR427bn ($113.8bn). The CST issued the Saudi Internet Report 2024, presenting key verified figures on the internet ecosystem and usage in the Kingdom and progress in internet service quality based on the latest statistics. The report highlights several indicators and data points related to user behaviour and preferences in browsing the internet in the Kingdom during 2024. It revealed that: Internet penetration in Saudi Arabia has reached 99 per cent Peak daily usage hours were recorded between 9pm and 11pm, with Saturday identified as one of the highest internet usage days of the week The percentage of internet use via mobile phones reached 99.4 per cent, surpassing all other device types 93.1 per cent of online purchases were made through local websites 21.5 per cent of internet users in the Kingdom utilise various artificial intelligence tools and applications. The report revealed detailed insights into Saudi Arabia's performance in internet-related indicators globally. The average monthly mobile data consumption per user reached 48GB, three times the global average. The annual growth in Saudi domain names reached 25 per cent, eight times the global average. Additionally, the Kingdom ranked among the top five G20 countries in mobile internet speeds, reflecting the advancement and development of its digital infrastructure and contributing to broader internet penetration and service accessibility.
