Brand building is a key factor in economic growth and development, said Fahd Al-Rasheed, group CEO and managing director of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
He was speaking at the NEXT Forum, which brought together CEOs, local and international brand experts and thought leaders.
The NEXT Power Brands Festival, organized by Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (MISK), concluded recently with the NEXT Forum.
The festival was the first event to place branding at the center of a conversation around Saudi Arabia’s social-economic transformation.
“We are delighted to be a strategic partner of MISK and Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship (MBSC) in presenting his important thought leadership event," said Fahd Al-Rasheed, group CEO and managing director of KAEC.
“We are committed to supporting all initiatives that aim to increase the private sector’s competitiveness, reach and expansion in order to achieve the aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030,” he added.
Among the business leaders who participated in the event were Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP; Mohammed Alshaya, CEO of the Alshaya Group; Fahd Al-Sukait of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs; and Khalid Al-Bayyari, CEO of Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC).
Teams of panelists discussed market realities, opportunities and challenges, and presented innovative ideas and impactful recommendations related to building and establishing brands.
Topics included the future of retail, consumers’ views, modern perspectives on branding, marketing in the 21st century, the branding of cities, the dynamics of modern economies, and brand building beyond borders.
A highlight of the festival was Prince Mohammed bin Salman College’s announcement of the NEXT Power Brands Index, which will track the Kingdom’s most valuable and impactful brands, based on the BrandZ methodology.
Mohanud Helal, secretary-general of the Economic Cities Authority, thanked KAEC and Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation for holding the event.
He said: “We at the Economic Cities Authority encourage initiatives like NEXT, which lend support to the Kingdom’s comprehensive development by empowering young Saudis by honing their marketing and business skills through bringing them together with international thought leaders and enabling them to them showcase their talents at exhibitions and events all over the world.”
Fahd Hamidaddin, secretary-general of the NEXT Festival, was equally upbeat. He said: “I could not be happier with the turnout and response of the who’s who of presidents, executives, and business people from around the world and their contribution to the Next Forum, which was an open, constructive discussion that covered many vital aspects of the reality and future of the Saudi market and the role of the private sector in its development.”
A key component of the festival was the NEXT Markathon, in which a group of national talents competed to develop solutions to marketing problems posed by major national brands, all in an atmosphere of learning that enriches the experience of the contenders and brings them closer to becoming leaders in the near future.
KAEC committed to supporting initiatives to promote private sector competitiveness
KAEC committed to supporting initiatives to promote private sector competitiveness
Aramco Digital to launch National Industrial Network on 450 MHz band
Aramco Digital, the digital and technology arm of Aramco, is preparing to launch its National Industrial Network operating on the 450 MHz spectrum, a network designed to enable secure, resilient, and high-reliability industrial communications across Saudi Arabia. The network has been engineered as a mission-critical industrial infrastructure to deliver high levels of security, flexibility, and reliability to meet the needs of industrial sectors. It provides wide-area coverage with advanced protection standards, supporting operational environments that require continuous performance and dependable connectivity for critical facilities and assets.
“The National Industrial Network has been designed to support the advanced operational requirements of modern industrial environments, aimed at enhancing efficiency, strengthening business continuity, and enabling a new class of highly reliable industrial communications. Together with next-generation mission-critical smart radios, the network aims to help build a future-ready industrial infrastructure that enables real-time data insights, supports industrial digital transformation, and aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030,” said Nabil Al-Nuaim, Aramco Digital CEO.
Unlike public networks, the National Industrial Network has been purpose-built for industrial environments, enabling connectivity for critical assets, supply chains, logistics operations, and autonomous mobility systems. The network seeks to elevate smart industrial services, supporting real-time monitoring, automation, enhanced safety, and higher operational efficiency across industrial sectors.
As part of the launch, Aramco Digital plans to introduce an integrated portfolio of industrial digital solutions powered by the 450 MHz network. These include specialized connectivity packages tailored to diverse sector needs, along with a new generation of mission-critical smart radios designed specifically for industrial operations. The devices combine rugged high-performance design and industrial safety compliance with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, enhanced sensing technologies, extended battery life, and real-time on-device data processing, helping improve accuracy, safety, and operational continuity in complex environments.
The network has also been designed to support a wide spectrum of industrial IoT applications, including asset condition and performance monitoring, fleet tracking, air-quality and environmental sensing, intelligent video monitoring, smart metering, lighting and infrastructure control, as well as mobility and fleet-management solutions. These capabilities enhance operational transparency, automation, and efficiency across both industrial and public sectors.
The National Industrial Network aims to help establish a strong technological foundation for Saudi Arabia’s next industrial phase, contributing to the objectives of Vision 2030 by delivering highly reliable, nationwide industrial connectivity that enables automation, intelligence, and advanced digital services across vital sectors. By developing connectivity solutions aligned with the needs of modern industrial operations, Aramco Digital is helping shape the future of mission-critical digital infrastructure in the Kingdom, moving beyond traditional telecommunications to enable continuous interaction between devices, machines, and AI-powered systems, and strengthening real-time decision-making through edge processing.
The 450 MHz National Industrial Network represents more than an improvement in coverage or performance. It is a strategic step toward smarter, more autonomous, and technology-driven industrial ecosystems that enhance operational excellence and set a new benchmark for advanced digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
With the accelerating pace of digital transformation in the Kingdom, secure and reliable connectivity has become a fundamental pillar in supporting operational requirements and driving economic growth. Organizations across various sectors— including industrial sectors and those enabling future economies — are increasingly relying on advanced connectivity solutions and technologies to enhance safety and reliability, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new horizons for sustainable economic development.
