RIYADH: Aramco Digital is at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s shift toward a technology-driven economy, implementing key initiatives in cybersecurity, 5G infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.
In alignment with Vision 2030, the company is developing an industrial 5G network and a major AI-driven data center, positioning the Kingdom as a global tech leader and driving economic growth through digital innovation.
In an interview with Arab News at the Global Cybersecurity Forum in Riyadh, Margarete Schramboeck, a board member of Aramco Digital, highlighted the firm’s crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, particularly in cybersecurity and its industrial applications.
“Cybersecurity plays an important role not only for our private lives but especially for the business lives,” Schramboeck said, highlighting the importance of Aramco Digital and its subsidiary, Cyberani, in safeguarding companies, industrial sectors, and government authorities.
Their priority is to create safer and more productive environments. “It’s one of our focuses,” she added.
As a comprehensive information and communication technology company, Aramco Digital is working to enhance Saudi Arabia’s online infrastructure.
The firm has secured a license to develop an industrial private 5G network, which will soon be deployed across the country. This network will serve as a foundation for industrial companies and government entities.
Schramboeck also shared that Aramco Digital is collaborating with US artificial intelligence company Groq to build a major data center designed for storage and AI-focused processing.
“Most importantly, it (the data center) is Saudi, and it is important that we see that this is an important aspect,” she added.
This facility aims to become one of the largest in the Middle East, potentially the world, driving the Kingdom’s ambition to be a global hub for AI and digital innovation.
The company’s commitment aligns with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s blueprint for economic diversification. “Helping Saudi Arabia and the region in this digital transformation is key for us,” Schramboeck said, emphasizing the local origin of the data center and its role in shaping the Kingdom’s future.
Schramboeck also discussed the critical role of cybersecurity in enabling broader digital transformation. “We cannot do anything today without cybersecurity,” she stressed, linking it to the resilience of economies worldwide.
She praised the Global Cybersecurity Forum for spotlighting the skills and innovative potential within the sector, underscoring its importance in building economic resilience.
Reflecting on the Kingdom’s digital progress, Schramboeck expressed admiration for the country’s advancements, particularly in the public sector, highlighting that “Saudi Arabia and the government sector is ahead of a lot of European countries.”
While she acknowledged the potential for cooperation between the Kingdom and Europe, particularly in industrial automation, she emphasized that Saudi Arabia has been making remarkable strides in achieving its goals through investment in both funding and manpower.
Schramboeck concluded by expressing her desire to help bridge the gap between the Kingdom and mid-sized European companies specializing in industrial automation.
“There are a lot of mid-sized European specialized companies in this field. Sometimes they don’t know about Saudi Arabia, they don’t dare to come here,” she said, expressing her commitment to fostering collaboration and growth in this field.
