Saudi Telecom names Olayan Al-Wetaid as new group CEO

Olayan Mohammed Alwetaid, group chief executive officer of STC. (Supplied)
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Updated 13 January 2021
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Saudi Telecom names Olayan Al-Wetaid as new group CEO

  • Alwetaid worked at Saudi Aramco before joining STC
  • He holds more than 20 years of experience

RIYADH: Saudi Telecom Co. (STC) has named Olayan Mohammed Al-Wetaid as its new group CEO, starting March 28, 2021.

Al-Wetaid has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry and worked at Saudi Aramco before joining STC, the firm said in a statement to Tadawul.

He is currently a senior VP of a consumer business unit at STC and heads several STC subsidiaries, such as Channels, Intigral and Contact Center Co. (CCC). He was previously CEO of STC Bahrain.

STC is seeking an international and regional presence, and is investing in countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain and Malaysia.

The telecom company offers information and communication technology solutions and digital services in areas including telecommunication, IT, financial technology, digital media and cybersecurity.

It aims to lead the Kingdom’s digital transformation in line with goals set out as part of Vision 2030.

Major achievements during 2019 allowed STC to move forward in terms of digital services.

The company recently launched three large data centers in Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah, with an investment of nearly SR1 billion ($270 million).

FASTFACTS

• STC is seeking an international and regional presence, and is investing in countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain and Malaysia.

• It aims to lead the Kingdom’s digital transformation in line with goals set out as part of Vision 2030.

These will enable the digital transformation of government and private companies as part of its efforts to enhance cloud-based infrastructure in the areas of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, computing and automation.

According to STC, the new data centers have more than 150 ready-made units, providing 10.8 MW of critical IT power, with space capable of reaching 16.8 MW. The projects represent the first phase of the new era of “next generation” STC data centers, the company said.

The telecom provider’s latest available financial results show that during the first nine months of 2020 it generated revenue of SR43.737 billion ($11.66 billion), an increase of 6.41, while net profit for the same period was up 0.7 percent to SR8.402 billion.

In terms of global rankings, among the world’s top 50 digital companies, STC ranked first in the MENA region, according to Forbes Magazine, and is one of the world’s 10 largest communications companies in terms of market value.

STC also won the 2019 Best Practices Award in the Business Intelligence, Visual Analytics and Data Discovery category from Transforming Data With Intelligence, a leading source of education and research on data-related topics.


Industry leaders highlight Riyadh’s Metro, infrastructure as investment catalysts

Updated 29 December 2025
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Industry leaders highlight Riyadh’s Metro, infrastructure as investment catalysts

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, is experiencing a transformative phase in its real estate sector, with the construction market projected to reach approximately $100 billion in 2025, accompanied by an anticipated annual growth rate of 5.4 percent through 2029.

The Kingdom is simultaneously advancing its data center capacity at an accelerated pace, with an impressive 2.7 GW currently in the pipeline. This expansion underscores the critical role of strategic land and power planning in establishing national infrastructure as a cornerstone of economic growth.

These insights were shared by leading industry experts during JLL’s recent client event in Riyadh, which focused on the city’s macroeconomic landscape and emerging trends across office, residential, retail, hospitality, and pioneering sectors, including AI infrastructure and Transit-Oriented Development.

Saud Al-Sulaimani, Country Lead and Head of Capital Markets at JLL Saudi Arabia, commented: “Riyadh is positioned at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, offering unparalleled opportunities for both investors and developers. National priorities are continuously recalibrated to ensure strategic alignment of projects and foster deeper collaboration with the private sector.”

He added: “Recent regulatory developments, including the introduction of the White Land Tax and the rent freeze, are designed to stabilize the market and are expected to drive renewed focus on delivering premium-quality assets. This dynamic environment, coupled with evolving construction cost considerations in select segments, is fundamentally reshaping the market landscape while accelerating progress toward our national objectives.”

The event further underscored the transformative impact of infrastructure initiatives. Mireille Azzam Vidjen, Head of Consulting for the Middle East and Africa at JLL, highlighted Riyadh’s transit revolution. She detailed the Riyadh Metro, a $22.5 billion investment encompassing 176 kilometers, six lines, and 84 stations, providing extensive geographic coverage, with a depth of 9.8 km per 100 sq. km. This strategic development generates significant TOD opportunities, with properties in proximity potentially commanding a 20-30 percent premium. JLL emphasized the importance of implementing climate-responsive last-mile solutions to enhance mobility and accessibility, particularly given Riyadh’s extreme temperatures.

Gaurav Mathur, Head of Data Centers at JLL, emphasized the rapid expansion of the Kingdom’s AI infrastructure, signaling a critical area for technological investment and innovation.

Focusing on the construction sector, Maroun Deeb, Head of Projects and Development Services, KSA at JLL, explained that the industry is actively navigating complexities such as skilled labor availability, material costs, and supply chain dynamics.

He highlighted the adoption of Building Information Modeling as a key driver for enhancing operational efficiency and project delivery.