Saudi Arabia to roll out AI-powered security screening system at airports

The announcement was made during the 2nd Global AI Summit in Riyadh on Sept.14. (Supplied)
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Updated 15 September 2022
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Saudi Arabia to roll out AI-powered security screening system at airports

RIYADH: Artificial Intelligence security screening technology, known as ICMOR, is set to be rolled out in airports across Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom's General Authority of Civil Aviation has said

The announcement was made during the 2nd Global AI Summit in Riyadh on Sept.14.

This follows GACA’s partnership with Smith Detection Group, a manufacturer of security equipment technologies, which will deploy X-ray baggage screening devices across airports, helping detect prohibited items entering airports.

As this screening system uses machine learning, it will help increase the capacity and efficiency of inspecting a larger volume of baggage quickly.

“The use of ICMOR will enhance Saudi airports operations, by accelerating the sorting process of baggage with high efficiency, achieving additional security control, enhancing the capabilities of the civil aviation sector to meet the expected growth of passengers and facilitating the flow of passengers and baggage,” said GACA in a press release.

The adoption of AI in airport operations will also encourage innovation in the field of civil aviation, and facilitate the travel process to enhance the passenger experience, enhance security quality and reduce human interaction, the press release noted.

Since the launch of Saudi Arabia’s aviation strategy which is a part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, GACA has been implementing several initiatives to achieve the target of 330 million passengers and a cargo volume of 4.5 million tons by the end of this decade.

To achieve this target, GACA announced 80 new air routes connecting the Kingdom with destinations worldwide in August. 

The introduction of the latest routes would strengthen the Kingdom’s global connectivity and help encourage greater competition in the Saudi aviation sector, GACA said in a statement.

GACA has also said that Saudi Arabia would be reducing airport charges between 10 percent and 35 percent for airlines to support a competitive aviation environment in the Kingdom.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,228 

Updated 15 February 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,228 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, lost 23.17 points, or 0.21 percent, to close at 11,228.64. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR2.99 billion ($797 million), as 170 of the stocks advanced and 82 retreated.    

On the other hand, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 449.38 points, or 1.90 percent, to close at 24,093.12. This comes as 43 of the stocks advanced while 27 retreated.    

The MSCI Tadawul Index lost 6.07 points, or 0.40 percent, to close at 1,511.36.     

The best-performing stock of the day was Obeikan Glass Co., whose share price surged 7.54 percent to SR27.66.  

Other top performers included Alamar Foods Co., whose share price rose 6.80 percent to SR47.10, as well as Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co., whose share price climbed 6.79 percent to SR5.66.   

Saudi Investment Bank recorded the steepest drop, falling 3.21 percent to SR13.56. 

Jahez International Co. for Information System Technology also saw its share price fall 3.15 percent to SR13.55. 

Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. declined 2.78 percent to SR7.34. 

On the announcements front, Tanmiah Food Co. reported its annual financial results for the period ending Dec. 31. According to a Tadawul statement, the company recorded a net loss of SR18.8 million, compared with a net profit of SR95.8 million a year earlier. 

The net loss was mainly due to ongoing market challenges that resulted in continued pricing pressures in fresh poultry, inflationary cost pressures, higher financing expenses, and depreciation and ramp-up costs from new facilities, partially offset by increased production volumes and cost-optimization initiatives.  

Tanmiah Food Co. ended the session at SR58.20, up 3.72 percent. 

United International Holding Co., also known as Tas’heel, announced its annual financial results for the period ending Dec. 31. A bourse filing showed the company recorded a net profit of SR273.64 million in 2025, up 23.05 percent from 2024, primarily driven by a 23.4 percent rise in revenues. The revenue growth helped lift gross profit by 23.7 percent. 

Tas’heel ended the session at SR146.80, down 0.28 percent.