RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s technology conference LEAP 2024 is awash with thousands of international companies and startups, but government agencies are also using the event to showcase their digital products and services.
As well as 1,800 exhibitors, 170,000 attendees and 1,100 expert speakers, over 30 public sector entities are attending the Riyadh-based gathering, now in its third edition.
The agencies are participating in the Digital Saudi Exhibition organized by the Digital Government Authority to showcase innovative models of working using emerging technologies.
In addition, they are also signing strategic agreements, launching new services and taking part in discussion sessions and workshops about digital transformation.
The participation aims to enhance Saudi Arabia’s global position as an innovative digital environment and highlight success stories in the transformation journey.
In addition, it emphasizes the most prominent digital government services aimed at raising the quality of life and enhancing competitiveness.
Furthermore, the exhibition unifies the efforts of the authorities in highlighting the development of digital government services in the Kingdom in accordance with the highest international standards and practices.
Ericsson, Mobily extend managed services agreement
During LEAP, Ericsson and Etihad Etisalat, popularly known as Mobily, have extended their managed services agreement for an additional three years to leverage next-generation artificial intelligence and machine learning for autonomous operations, according to a press release.
The data-driven operations aim to optimize processes, enhance operational and service metrics, and reduce time-to-market, ensuring Mobily consistently delivers high-quality services, elevates customer experiences, and enhances efficiency.
Alaa Malki, chief technology officer at Etihad Etisalat, said that his firm is committed to supporting digital transformation initiatives across the Kingdom’s public and private sectors in line with the aspirations of the Saudi Vision 2030.
He added: “Our long-term partnership with Ericsson enables us to enhance our infrastructure by introducing the latest technologies, boost the capabilities of our networks and strengthen our competitiveness in the Saudi telecom market, unlocking new possibilities for our customers.”
Ekow Nelson, vice president at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, said: “We are excited to contribute to a digitally empowered Saudi Arabia through our partnership with Mobily, building upon the foundation of Saudi Vision 2030.
“We do this several in ways through our nearly two-decade-long relationship of delivering leading-edge innovations.
“Our latest, Ericsson’s AI-powered managed services navigate complexity, will ensure reliable and adaptable networks for today’s dynamic needs and empower Mobily to offer exceptional experiences for its customer.”
STC Group, Diriyah Co. strengthen collaboration
Diriyah Co. and STC Group showcased the synergy between technology and giga-projects in the stc booth at the conference with a digital map of the UNESCO Heritage Site.
Their collaboration focuses on smart city solutions, sustainable development, and blending technology with cultural heritage in modern infrastructure.
According to an agreement signed last year, STC Group will develop wired and wireless communication networks and provide internet services for Diriyah Co.’s main headquarters, commercial premises and cloud security services.
It will also equip Diriyah’s locations with cutting-edge technology while retaining their distinctive heritage value.
Deloitte showcases innovative products, services
The Deloitte space at LEAP features a giant 3D screen, offering visitors an immersive glimpse into innovative technology products and services.
With technology solutions spanning data and AI, cloud, unlimited reality, sustainability, and cyber security, attendees are able to witness firsthand innovation.
Additionally, Deloitte is demonstrating assets in collaboration with strategic global alliances such as Anaplan, Adobe, and ServiceNow.
“LEAP 2024 provides an exceptional platform for us to showcase our commitment to innovation and emerging technologies, driving meaningful impact for our clients across the region,” said Rashid Bashir, consulting CEO at Deloitte Middle East.
He added: “We are thrilled to be part of this dynamic gathering once again, where we can demonstrate our dedication to pushing boundaries and shaping the future of business in the Middle East.”
Visitors of the Deloitte space have the opportunity to engage in a gamified Immersive Spatial F1 Experience. This interactive showcase highlights cross-industry use cases of technologies enabled by Deloitte, including immersive learning, media streaming, product visualization, and collaborative multiplayer engagement.
Saudamini Dubey, digital transformation lead partner at Deloitte, told Arab News that this is the second year that the company is partnering with LEAP.
“The reason we are here is because it allows us to showcase our tech transformation capabilities and not just globally, but also more importantly out here in Saudi Arabia, where we have a lot of talent based out of a Deloitte Digital center in Riyadh and also our new head office,” she said.
Among others, Dubey went on to highlight the immersive experience mimicking being in the race track while participating in a multiplayer game.
She explained: “If you look at the Formula One racing, normally it’s about cars whizzing right across with a lot of analytics or support. Out here, you can almost feel like you’re there in the race. You’re able to also look at all the details of the car, the race itself.”
Dubey pointed out that Deloitte has worked on different projects tackling sustainability and climate change.
She added: “We have our green impact, which focuses on climate and sustainability, and we are also very proud to be partnering with partners like ServiceNow to launch an innovation space with them at the Deloitte Digital Center focused on the public sector. We are partnering with organizations like Adobe ServiceNow and a plan to showcase our end-to-end transformative capabilities.”
LEAP is an annual premier tech event founded in 2022 by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. It brings together leading professionals from the sector to deliberate on the industry’s future and the innovative opportunities ahead.
