Saudi AI authority launches SMARTATHON as government eyes 200 smart cities  

SDAIA launched a new challenge called “SMARTATHON” with an aim to extend the usage of Artificial Intelligence. (Supplied)
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Updated 14 September 2022
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Saudi AI authority launches SMARTATHON as government eyes 200 smart cities  

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia plans to build 200 smart cities, it has launched a new challenge called “SMARTATHON” with an aim to extend the usage of Artificial Intelligence in creating smarter, safer, and healthier cities.

“We today announce the launch of SMARTATHON, the smart cities challenge,” said Abdullah Al Ghamdi, head of Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, during the Global AI Summit in Riyadh on Sept. 14.

This comes as Majid Al Hogail, minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, revealed the plans to unveil a number of smart cities in the Kingdom in partnership with SDAIA and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. 

Our dream is to have more than 200 smart cities in Saudi Arabia using AI, in areas of parking, special planning and the most important is the citizens' engagement, and how that will improve the quality of service in our country,” Al Hogail stated.

The Global AI Summit, which runs from Sept. 13 to Sept. 15, is exploring the impact of AI on topics as crucial as economic mobility, health care, human capability development, and smart cities. 


Stc Group issues US dollar-denominated sukuk with a total value of $2bn

Updated 09 January 2026
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Stc Group issues US dollar-denominated sukuk with a total value of $2bn

RIYADH: Stc Group has issued US dollar-denominated sukuk with a total value of $2 billion across two tranches.

The group clarified that the issuance included the offering of $750 million in sukuk with a 5-year maturity at a yield of US Treasury plus 75 basis points, and an issuance of $1.250 billion with a 10-year maturity at a yield of UST plus 90 basis points, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

It noted that the total order book exceeded $8 billion across both tranches, with a coverage rate exceeding 4 times, and participation from over 300 investors in the subscription.

The issuance garnered strong demand from a broad and diverse base of international investors, reflecting solid confidence in the robustness and efficiency of stc Group’s business model and strategy. 

This strategy is aimed at strengthening its digital leadership, seizing infrastructure opportunities, enabling massive projects, and contributing to the realization of Vision 2030 objectives, with a focus on achieving sustainable growth based on operational efficiency and maximizing shareholder value.

This issuance enhances stc Group’s access to international capital markets and solidifies investor confidence in the strength of its credit position. 

It also supports its strategic role in accelerating the pace of digital transformation in the Kingdom and building a thriving digital economy.