Saudi Arabia develops secure alternative to WhatsApp
Saudi Vision 2030 underpins the importance of digitalization and cybersecurity and that this endeavor is in the pursuit of that program
Updated 05 September 2020
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is developing a secure alternative to the short messaging service WhatsApp that will help ensure protection of confidential data.
The local messaging service will limit the Kingdom’s reliance on foreign companies and ensure that any confidential or sensitive data is safe on local servers.
A dedicated team of Saudi engineers and researchers at the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is working on this project.
The instant message platform is expected to be ready in a year and will allow users to communicate in a secure environment as an alternative to Facebook’s WhatsApp and Tencent’s WeChat.
“This platform is being built on locally developed encrypted software and algorithms that will protect it from potential security vulnerabilities and help achieve the highest degree of security and privacy,” said Basil Al-Omair, director at the National Information Security Center at the KACST.
In a statement issued to the media, Al-Omair further said that the homegrown platform will also guarantee a safe exchange of both text and voice communications.
“The advantage of the app, designed by the all-Saudi workforce, is that it is free from external servers controlled by foreign agencies and will hence ensure confidentiality,” he added.
They are currently targeting government agencies, institutions and companies, and not the average user, he said.
Speaking to Arab News, Mohammed Khurram Khan, a professor of cybersecurity at the King Saud University in Riyadh, said: “It is indeed a great initiative taken by the KACST to develop an indigenous platform for secured file transfer and multimedia communication, which would have a multitude of benefits.”
He added: “It may create new job opportunities for local talent, develop intellectual property, provide homegrown secure application to public and private sector organizations, and offer bilingual communication interfaces for native users.”
In addition, its local development will ensure that it is free from any security backdoors and loopholes that allow hackers to perform cyberattacks, added Khan, who is also the founder and CEO of Global Foundation for Cyber Studies & Research in Washington, DC.
“This application will harness military-grade security for the confidentiality and integrity of communication and will provide end-to-end encryption for the private exchange of data,” he said.
He added that Saudi Vision 2030 underpins the importance of digitalization and cybersecurity and that this endeavor is in the pursuit of that program.
“Once this platform is successfully implemented and tested, it could be exported to generate revenue and boost the national economy,” said Khan.
The platform, he added, could be made scalable and may integrate with other services to provide additional functionalities, such as securing payment of bills, tickets and money transfer.
Saudi Arabia to attend 10th UN anti-corruption conference in Atlanta on Monday
Updated 1 min 36 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will participate in the 10th Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption on Monday in Atlanta, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
The delegation will be headed by Mazin Al-Kahmous, president of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), and will comprise members from various ministries, as well as the Presidency of State Security, and the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers.
Officials and experts will discuss integrity protection and anti-corruption efforts, as well as advancing commitments, policy priorities, monitoring implementation and sharing expertise.
The agenda will cover asset recovery, fostering international cooperation and adopting resolutions.
The Kingdom will propose studying methodologies and indicators for measuring corruption rates and the effectiveness of anti-corruption frameworks.
Alongside the conference, Saudi Arabia will host an exhibition highlighting its local and international anti-corruption initiatives.
It will also organize a high-level event entitled “Nazaha’s Global Initiative for Measuring Corruption,” featuring participation from relevant international organizations and civil society institutions.
AlUla to set majestic stage for Drone Champions League Super Final
The Kingdom’s historic city will be first in GCC to host a major DCL event
Updated 09 December 2023
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: The Drone Champions League — billed as the “world championship for professional drone racing” — will hold its first Super Final in the heart of AlUla’s Old Town on Dec. 20.
AlUla will be the first location in the GCC to host a major DCL event, and although no physical drones will be flying there, the league said in a statement: “It will be a chance for drone sports enthusiasts to enjoy the stunning and diverse landscapes of AlUla, varying between golden canyons, lush green oasis or spectacular geological marvels.”
The league’s organizers describe it as a “global pioneer in professional virtual and real-life drone racing. With a mission to combine cutting-edge technology and stunning locations, it has created a one-of-a-kind racing series that has captivated millions around the world.”
The Drone Champions League Super Final will be held in AlUla Old Town on Dec. 20 and will converge ‘technology, athleticism, and AlUla’s vision for sports and adventure.’ (Supplied)
The DCL has rapidly gained popularity since its launch in 2016. Originally rooted in physical drone racing, DCL has evolved into a predominantly virtual format, blending hi-tec drones with the immersive world of gaming.
The annual DCL Drone Prix season features 10 teams. The competition reaches its climax with the top six teams engaging in split finals employing an elimination-style format, culminating in the DCL Super Final.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The annual DCL Drone Prix season features 10 teams.
• The league is exploring a return to real-life drone racing alongside virtual events.
The DCL has staged races in iconic locations worldwide, from the historic streets of Paris to the frozen landscapes of Norway, providing visual spectacles for the audience and challenging courses for the pilots.
“The convergence of technology, athleticism, and AlUla’s vision for sports and adventure will make this Super Final a truly exceptional and unforgettable experience,” the statement said.
Margarete Schramboeck, Aramco Digital board member
The idea to stage the Super Final in AlUla came from Margarete Schramboeck, Austria’s former minister of economy and digital affairs and a board member of Aramco Digital. Recognizing the popularity of esports in contemporary youth culture, Schramboeck felt that Saudi Arabia, more than any other nation, exemplifies this trend.
“When the DCL team approached me, presenting their world-class drone racing league and its capabilities, I immediately saw the potential for Saudi Arabia … I envisioned it as something truly exceptional,” she told Arab News.
Drones and gaming play such an important role for our next generation — they are part of digital transformation and contribute to Saudi Vision 2030.
Margarete Schramboeck, Aramco Digital board member
Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih provided immediate support for the idea when it was presented to him at the French-Saudi Business Forum earlier this year, she added, and put her in touch with Amr Al-Madani, CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla.
“I was so happy my idea was supported by both. I want to thank them for making it possible,” Schramboeck added.
Markus Stampfer, DCL owner
With over 50 million viewers around the world in 2023, the DCL’s appearance in AlUla will attract attention from across the globe for the UNESCO World Heritage site, giving the tech-savvy younger generation the opportunity to delve into AlUla’s cultural heritage through their passion for gaming.
“Drones and gaming play such an important role for our next generation — they are part of digital transformation and contribute to Saudi Vision 2030. I only want to do projects which provide a clear value-add to the Kingdom on multiple levels,” Schramboeck said.
By choosing AlUla, we aim to bring the essence of this extraordinary location to a global audience, shining a spotlight on its cultural and historical importance.
Markus Stampfer, DCL owner
DCL owner Markus Stampfer told Arab News in an exclusive interview: “Our roots lie in physical drone racing and engineering, but, over time, we’ve evolved into a globally accessible esports title. This transformation aligns with the trend of Tourism 3.0, where cities and regions are visualized and digitized.
“This shift has allowed a young audience to be digitally close to World Heritage sites such as the remarkable example in AlUla,” he added. “We’ve achieved our development milestones during the past years to drive this transformation and are proud to be making DCL a global sensation.”
Stampfer also revealed that the league is exploring a return to real-life drone racing alongside virtual events. Several cities have already signed on for this initiative, and there are plans to introduce physical drone racing in Saudi Arabia in 2024.
“This marks a significant step toward achieving the ultimate goal of a hybrid global racing series, seamlessly integrating both digital and real-life experiences,” he said.
Why AlUla?
AlUla has been at the forefront of sustainable development in the Kingdom through its prestigious sports and adventure offerings, hosting numerous events including the AlUla Camel Cup, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup, the Saudi Tour, and, more recently, AlUla Desert Blaze.
AlUla Old Town was recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages in 2022.
Stampfer emphasized that AlUla’s unique backdrop aligns perfectly with DCL’s vision: “It is a special honor to be in a place that is a World Heritage site, offering a unique backdrop that showcases the historical significance of the region. The league places great importance on cultural resonance and AlUla fits perfectly with our vision for creating a memorable and impactful event.
“By choosing AlUla, we aim to bring the essence of this extraordinary location to a global audience, shining a spotlight on its cultural and historical importance,” he added.
Saudi authority showcases AI advancement at Singapore conference
Areeb Al-Owisheq, the AI adviser representing the authority, took part in a workshop titled “Arabic Language Models: Challenges and Opportunities”
Updated 09 December 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and AI Authority participated in the 2023 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing in Singapore, highlighting its groundbreaking advancements in large-language-model development.
Areeb Al-Owisheq, the AI adviser representing the authority, took part in a workshop titled “Arabic Language Models: Challenges and Opportunities” during the five-day conference, which runs until Dec. 10.
She showcased the authority’s ambitious initiatives, including the construction of expansive language models, the curation of extensive Arabic datasets, and the development of linguistic models tailored for the Arabic language.
Al-Owisheq underscored the pivotal role of safety considerations in the development of these AI models and noted that “large language models are sophisticated deep-learning constructs trained on vast datasets. Natural Language Processing, a pivotal aspect of artificial intelligence, empowers computers to comprehend, generate, and process human language, allowing effective querying of data using natural language text or speech.”
SDAIA’s participation in the conference reflects its commitment to showcasing Saudi Arabia’s advancements in data and artificial intelligence. The authority aims to position itself as a global leader in these cutting-edge technologies.
These efforts align with SDAIA’S initiatives to transfer, localize, and generate knowledge in the field of artificial intelligence, and to integrate it into the Kingdom’s digital transformation endeavors outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.
SDAIA also unveiled the Sawtak (Your Voice) system during the event. Sawtak employs generative AI techniques to convert speech into text, and, the authority says, “boasts unparalleled precision in recognizing various local dialects and surpassing existing applications in the market.”
The agreement is to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030
Updated 09 December 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed a joint cooperation agreement with the Al-Ramdi Association in Dammam to implement volunteer programs outside the Kingdom.
The agreement was signed at the KSrelief headquarters in Riyadh, by its assistant supervisor general director for planning and development Aqeel Al-Ghamdi and Ziyad bin Abdullah Al-Suwaidan, chairman of Al-Ramdi’s board of directors.
The agreement is part of KSrelief’s efforts to support volunteer programs in a number of countries around the world, and to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which calls for integration between various national authorities.
Event organized by the Saudi Saline Water Conversion Corp
Updated 09 December 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: The second Operational Excellence Conference, OPEXKSA, will begin on Dec. 12 in Riyadh, covering “global leadership in operational excellence.”
Organized by the Saudi Saline Water Conversion Corp., the two-day conference emphasizes the role of digital transformation in achieving operational excellence in business, serving as a key platform for knowledge exchange.
The conference will highlight the significance of artificial intelligence, the fourth industrial revolution, sustainability and data in business performance.
It will cover 10 key sectors aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, including Hajj services, water, industry, mining, transportation, logistics, communications, energy, education and digital health. OPEXKSA will also address justice, finance, real estate, agriculture, research, development, innovation, human resources and social development.
Visitors will learn how to tackle challenges in today’s competitive environment through agile business development.
Sessions and workshops held at OPEXKSA will highlight digital transformation as a key pillar for growth and development.
OPEXKSA is hosting more than 100 speakers and will feature international consulting firms, along with government, private and nonprofit entities.
