Tawal showcases smart ICT solutions as gold sponsor at LEAP 2022

Mohammed Alhakbanio, CEO of Tawal
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Updated 01 February 2022
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Tawal showcases smart ICT solutions as gold sponsor at LEAP 2022

Saudi ICT infrastructure company Tawal is participating as a gold sponsor in LEAP 2022. The global platform for future technologies is being held at the Riyadh Front Expo Center, from Feb. 1-3.

From its booth No. 10 in Hall 3, as an exhibitor, Tawal is showcasing its capabilities through an augmented reality showcase, demonstrating its ICT solutions, products, and services in an engaging and innovative manner.

Tawal’s interactive showcase includes its smart city services and case studies of how the company enables urban transformation through smart ICT infrastructure. The company will also highlight its smart tower, capable of hosting multiple IoT-enabled smart sensors enabling organizations to run operations efficiently. Tawal will also showcase the smart pole, which offers 5G capabilities and can carry weather sensors, surveillance cameras, and other futuristic technologies such as drone landing pads for charging. The smart pole can also be used as a car charging station. Attendees can also experience Tawal’s augmented reality showcase to get a view of the company’s innovative products and solutions.

Mohammed Alhakbani, chief executive, Tawal, said: “Tawal is investing in powering the future of smart cities and helping its clients and partners develop infrastructure and ICT capabilities for the future. We are boosting local innovation capabilities, servicing the demand for increased connectivity, and supporting the digital transformation called for in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. At LEAP 2022, we will take our audiences on an immersive journey bringing together our capabilities, products, and services to show how we are serving enterprises, megaprojects, government and private sector entities.”

Tawal will also participate in thought leadership, debate, and conversations on LEAP’s stage. On Tuesday, Tawal’s chief commercial officer, Abdulrahman Al-Moaiqel, will discuss the role of ICT infrastructure in enabling the leap to smart cities.

On Feb. 2, Tawal’s chief strategy and governance officer, Richard Ltaif, will participate in a session on smart cities for a smart nation, discussing how technology and innovation can reshape cities to improve sustainability, efficiency, and quality of life.

Tawal is a leading Saudi ICT infrastructure company that offers state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure solutions to supply a growing industry. The company is well-positioned to lead the next hi-tech transformation by offering the ideal answer to customers in search of a reliable and cost-efficient ICT infrastructure that would ensure optimal operations for their business. Currently, a key player in the Saudi telecommunications infrastructure industry, the company aspires to extend its coverage to embrace the whole region.


Saudi Awwal Bank becomes first Middle East bank to earn 7-star CinOrg innovation accreditation

Saeed Assiri, chief innovation banking officer at SAB
Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Awwal Bank becomes first Middle East bank to earn 7-star CinOrg innovation accreditation

Saudi Awwal Bank has become the first bank in the Middle East to receive a 7‑star Certified Innovative Organization rating from the Global Innovation Institute, the highest recognition awarded by the institute.

The accreditation marks a significant step in SAB’s innovation strategy and follows an innovation maturity assessment conducted by the institute in December 2025. The review, which built on an earlier assessment in December 2023, raised the bank’s maturity level from “Champion” to “Leader.” The new rating reflects SAB’s institutionalized approach to innovation, its enterprise-wide impact and its ability to consistently deliver measurable results.

With the 7‑star rating, SAB becomes the first bank in the region to reach the highest innovation maturity level, strengthening its position as a regional reference point for innovation-led and future-ready banking.

In 2025, the bank opened its flagship Innovation Centre and secured six internationally recognized innovation awards, along with a lab accreditation. The centre has supported SAB’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, encourage cross-functional collaboration and reinforce its standing as a regional leader in financial innovation.

Saeed Assiri, chief innovation banking officer at SAB, said the recognition reflects years of focused work to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem.

“By investing in SAB’s culture, governance and talent, innovation enables the bank to remain future-ready,” he said. “This milestone reinforces our role in accelerating financial innovation in Saudi Arabia and delivering long-term value for our customers.”

The certification adds to SAB’s broader efforts to strengthen its innovation capabilities as the Kingdom’s banking sector continues to evolve.