While sustainability is the future, digital transformation is a key enabler supporting industries make the transition
For countries like Saudi Arabia and its fellow GCC members, addressing climate change has become an integral part of their economic development and diversification strategies.
This approach to growth, which centres on sustainability, draws on many approaches, most notably digital transformation. By deploying digital tools such as big data, analytics, the cloud, and artificial intelligence (AI), organisations can accomplish more while consuming less.
Read more: SA: Digital transformation will lead to a cleaner future
Two Saudi companies have been given a green light to develop data centres in one of Saudi Arabia’s newest – and possibly smartest – cities.
Permission was given by The General Authority of Competition in Saudi Arabia for the companies – Neom and FAS Energy – to develop and operate data centres in a planned Saudi city, also called, by no coincidence, Neom.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Digital Transformation Unit to develop exploratory projects and empower emerging technologies.
The deal seeks to build beneficial ties between the two institutions as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Emerging technologies covered under the agreement include 5G technology, drones, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, robotics and more.
President of Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi said in a statement that the law would help accelerate the process of digital transformation and create an information-based society.
The Saudi Cabinet has approved the Personal Data Protection Law that aims to reinforce respect for individuals' privacy and contribute to the creation of a data-based digital economy.
Read more: Saudi Arabia approves law to protect personal data
Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh underlined the importance of analyzing and evaluating the impact of the accelerated digital transformation and technologies on education and society as a whole.
He pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic continues to cast a deep and direct shadow on the world at the social and economic levels,” which will accelerate the digital transformation of societies.
This will require a need to test the flexibility of educational systems and their resilience and recovery and adopt new and innovative educational methods, Al-Sheikh said.
Read more: SA: COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation, says Al-Sheikh