Two recent announcements from Saudi Arabia highlight the growing momentum in the country behind smart city development. Firstly, MVNO Virgin Mobile Saudi, owned by Dubai-headquartered digital services provider Beyond One, has become the preferred technology partner for Middle Eastern regional technology services company Hitek. The two will develop a joint strategic approach to developing smart cities in Saudi Arabia. Initially, the partners say, the agreement will cover smart building solutions for potential projects in Saudi Arabia, but the deal does not rule out other markets.
Meanwhile, the ROSHN Group, the Public Investment Fund (PIF)-owned real estate developer, has signed a collaboration framework with tech giant Cisco that seeks further innovation in areas such as designing and building future-proof, sustainable smart buildings.
