Advanced Saudi Tech Products Are Highlighted at GITEX 2023

The Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control (Tahakom) is highlighting its innovations, products, and solutions that rely on the AI system. (SPA)
The Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control (Tahakom) is highlighting its innovations, products, and solutions that rely on the AI system. (SPA)
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Advanced Saudi Tech Products Are Highlighted at GITEX 2023

The Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control (Tahakom) is highlighting its innovations, products, and solutions that rely on the AI system. (SPA)
The Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control (Tahakom) is highlighting its innovations, products, and solutions that rely on the AI system. (SPA)

The Saudi government and private entities are showcasing their technical products and services at the GITEX Global 2023 exhibition, which is currently holding its 43rd edition at the Dubai World Trade Center between Oct. 16 and 20.

The event brings together more than 40 government and private entities in Dubai, with the participation of about 5,000 companies from various countries, focusing on the most important issues in artificial intelligence and blockchain, robotics, quantum computing, and cryptocurrencies.

Officials from the industrial and mineral resources sector are shedding light on the industrial and mining transformation in Saudi Arabia and opening channels of communication with global investors.

Through its participation at GITEX, the Saudi Ministry of Transport is reviewing its projects and initiatives to improve road quality, raise traffic safety levels, and automate bridge monitoring with the latest international technologies.

It is testing the direct monitoring system in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and measures the weights and dimensions of trucks on the roads without traffic obstacles or human intervention to enhance monitoring efficiency.

The Saudi Export Development Authority is participating with around 33 national companies under the "Saudi Made" program that aims to raise the image and brand of the Kingdom's exports, boost their position in regional and global markets, identify international business opportunities, link exporters with potential buyers, and promote national products and services on major vital platforms that bring together investors.

The Export-Import Bank (EXIM) is known for its financing, credit services, and products that enable local banks and financial institutions to support Saudi exporters and foreign importers.

EXIM provides innovative solutions to support non-oil exports and enhance its presence in global markets.

It reviews the Kingdom's experience in the transition towards the digital economy and the state's efforts to support emerging sectors and entrepreneurs.

The efforts aim to adopt advanced technologies, launch technology-based projects that support the transformation, and meet the aspirations of Vision 2030 to build a prosperous economy and sustainable development.

At GITEX, the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) is highlighting qualitative development in its technical services through various electronic platforms and its experience in developing smart systems, including its success in implementing the electronic invoicing system.

The Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control (Tahakom) is also taking part in GITEX 2023.

Tahakom is highlighting its innovations, products, and solutions that rely on its own AI system in public safety and smart mobility. They include the Urban Eye system, smart parking, "Tahakom's Public Safety Solutions Car," mixed reality, and a drone product display.

It also introduces a crowd management system and solutions and several solutions developed by the AI system, including Tahakom's personal assistant, created by a supercomputer that efficiently supports dealing with complex tasks and processing massive data at high speed.

The Advanced Electronics Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of SAMI, is showcasing many of its products, most notably Smart Solutions zone, Smart City technologies, Smart Street Light, Smart Fire Detection, Waste Management, Video Analytics, and Asset Tracking.

The exhibit will further explore the company's futuristic managed services, cloud computing systems, digital healthcare modules, innovative technologies spanning various industries, and unparalleled manufacturing capabilities.

GITEX is one of the most important technical platforms that showcases the latest technological solutions in cloud computing, consumer technology, information centers, e-marketing, and highly advanced innovations in the world of information technology from various parts of the world.

More than 5,000 exhibitors representing more than 170 countries, and over 100,000 visitors are expected at the event.



Canada to Remove Many Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods, Says Carney

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Metis Major Projects Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Metis Major Projects Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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Canada to Remove Many Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods, Says Carney

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Metis Major Projects Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Metis Major Projects Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 7, 2025. (Reuters)

Canada will remove many retaliatory import tariffs on US goods and intensify contacts with the United States on striking a new trade and security relationship, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday.

Canadian tariffs on US autos, steel and aluminum will remain for now, he told a press conference in Ottawa.

Carney noted that the United States had recently made clear that it would not impose tariffs on Canadian goods that were compliant with the three-nation US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, something he called a positive development.

"In this context and consistent with Canada's commitment to USMCA, I am announcing today that the Canadian government will now match the United States by removing all of Canada's tariffs on US goods specifically covered under USMCA," he said.

"Canada and the US have now re-established free trade for the vast majority of our goods," he added, reiterating that compared with its trading partners, Canadian exports were still subject overall to a low level of US tariffs.


Snapchat Strategy Backs Saudi Arabia’s Digital Economy, Tech Transformation

Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih during the inauguration of the company’s office (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih during the inauguration of the company’s office (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Snapchat Strategy Backs Saudi Arabia’s Digital Economy, Tech Transformation

Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih during the inauguration of the company’s office (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih during the inauguration of the company’s office (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Snapchat has reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, unveiling a strategy that aligns closely with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

According to Abdullah Al-Hammadi, Snapchat’s General Manager in Saudi Arabia, the company sees not challenges but opportunities in the local market, aiming to be a central partner in national development.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Hammadi explained that Snapchat’s strategy in the Kingdom rests on three key pillars: developing human capital, contributing to GDP by enabling creators to earn sustainable income, and strengthening ties with customers and partners through a local presence. The opening of Snapchat’s first Saudi office in the JAX District in Diriyah marked a major step in that direction.

“Our strategy begins with investing in people,” said Al-Hammadi, highlighting programs such as the 12-month Graduate Development Program, digital marketing workshops for Saudi businesses, and the Snap School initiative designed to support local content creators.

The second pillar, he noted, is driving economic impact. This includes empowering content creators to monetize their work and helping local advertisers expand their reach in the digital economy. The third pillar focuses on proximity: the new Saudi office hosts the region’s first “Snap Council,” a forum for creators to collaborate and innovate.

Snapchat formally inaugurated its Riyadh office in November 2024, in an event attended by co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel, along with Saudi Ministers Abdullah Al-Swaha (Communications and IT) and Khalid Al-Falih (Investment).

25 Million Active Users
The Kingdom remains one of Snapchat’s most dynamic markets, with over 25 million monthly active users who open the app more than 50 times a day. Around 90 percent of users fall between the ages of 13 and 34.

Company data shows that 54.5 percent of users are male and 45.5 percent female, while 60 percent of the most engaged users are over 25 years old. Meanwhile, 71 percent of Saudi parents actively use the platform.

“Saudis express themselves on Snapchat at a rate more than 2.2 times higher than on other platforms,” said Al-Hammadi. Over 85 percent of users interact daily with augmented reality (AR) lenses, which have become a defining feature of the platform.

National Day as a Digital Economy Driver
Al-Hammadi pointed to Saudi National Day as an example of Snapchat’s growing economic role. Traditionally a cultural celebration, the holiday has evolved into a major commercial season aligned with Vision 2030’s emphasis on the digital economy. In 2024, 94 percent of Saudi Snapchat users participated in National Day activities through the app.

September has also become a key shopping period: 85 percent of Saudis prepare shopping lists in advance, 72 percent plan bulk purchases, and 76 percent expect brand discounts. “National Day has become the second-biggest shopping season after Ramadan,” Al-Hammadi said. “On Snapchat, advertisers and shoppers come together in a shared moment of economic vitality through innovative campaigns.”

AI-Powered Experiences Ahead

Looking to the 2025 National Day, Snapchat anticipates a new wave of innovation driven by AI-enhanced AR. Features such as the Arabic Sign Language lens launched at the Riyadh International Book Fair in 2023, interactive book experiences, and child-focused filters demonstrate how AI can transform AR into more personal, inclusive, and immersive experiences.


Turkish Foreign Visitor Arrivals Drop 5% in July 

Tourists use umbrellas to shelter against the sun outside Hagia Sophia mosque during a hot summer day in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP)
Tourists use umbrellas to shelter against the sun outside Hagia Sophia mosque during a hot summer day in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP)
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Turkish Foreign Visitor Arrivals Drop 5% in July 

Tourists use umbrellas to shelter against the sun outside Hagia Sophia mosque during a hot summer day in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP)
Tourists use umbrellas to shelter against the sun outside Hagia Sophia mosque during a hot summer day in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP)

The number of foreign visitors arriving in Türkiye fell 5% from a year earlier to 6.97 million in July, tourism ministry data showed on Friday.

That compared with 7.33 million visitors in July 2024 and 7.14 million in July 2023.

Most visitors during the month came from Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, Poland and Netherlands, the data showed.

Tourism sector representatives have said higher prices in Türkiye has hit demand.