Aramco Wins Global Infrastructure Award

The company has made a technological revolution in the management of residential and commercial facilities and services at its main headquarters. (Aramco)
The company has made a technological revolution in the management of residential and commercial facilities and services at its main headquarters. (Aramco)
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Aramco Wins Global Infrastructure Award

The company has made a technological revolution in the management of residential and commercial facilities and services at its main headquarters. (Aramco)
The company has made a technological revolution in the management of residential and commercial facilities and services at its main headquarters. (Aramco)

Saudi Aramco has been recognized on the world stage for its adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

An awards event took place at the Smart City Expo World Congress on Wednesday in Barcelona.

The company's A'amer platform was granted the Infrastructure & Building Award for making a revolution in the management of residential and commercial facilities and services at Aramco’s main headquarters.

A'amer elevates urban living through integrated services across the city of Dhahran (eastern Saudi Arabia).

“We are thrilled to be recognized on the world stage for our work in smart city development, which is essential to meet the changing needs and expectations of urban communities,” said Talal Al Marri, Aramco Senior Vice President of Community Services.

“Our aim is to provide not only basic services like transportation and utilities but also a range of amenities and services that enhance people’s quality of life. As our understanding of cities evolves, so too must their infrastructure reflect an increasingly interconnected, technology-driven, and more sustainable way of living,” he added.

Nabil Al Nuaim, Aramco Senior Vice President of Digital and Information Technology, commented: “This award is a proud moment for us and a recognition of the positive impact we are making through the deployment of cutting-edge digital technologies, such as IoT and AI.”

“The A’amer platform is a prime example of how Aramco is harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution to positively shape its operations and enhance the lives of its employees, both inside and outside the workplace.”

A’amer optimizes building operations, space planning, and asset management across Aramco’s Dhahran facilities, using centralized data to predict, detect, and solve issues. It enables predictive, data-led maintenance and operation of all city services with an accessible, unified public service interface.

The platform provides substantial efficiency and sustainability-focused benefits, including annual savings of 1.7 billion gallons of water and 20.5GWh of annual energy. The platform has also resulted in a 31% increase in process optimization, a 40% increase in steps automation, and over a 30% increase in efficiency.



Watchdog FATF Places Lebanon on Financial Crime Watchlist

People inspect the damage at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on October 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
People inspect the damage at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on October 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
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Watchdog FATF Places Lebanon on Financial Crime Watchlist

People inspect the damage at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on October 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
People inspect the damage at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on October 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)

Lebanon has been placed on the so-called "grey list" of countries under special scrutiny by financial crime watchdog FATF, FATF said on Friday.

"Of course we recognize the extreme, grave situation that Lebanon is currently facing," Elisa de Anda Madrazo, the watchdog's president, told journalist.

"Lebanon's status on the grey list should not impede relief efforts ... We are working to make sure that channels of humanitarian aid remain open," she added.

Lebanon has been in a financial crisis since 2019 that has been left to fester by the country's leaders and now faces growing damage from Israeli airstrikes and ground operations against Hezbollah.

Madrazo said Lebanon had been accorded some flexibility regarding deadlines set in its action plan, but did not provide details at the news conference.

A source told Reuters earlier on Friday that the war had led the FATF to give Lebanon until 2026 instead of 2025 to address the issues that led to its grey-listing, including concerns over terrorism financing and a lack of judicial independence.

The grey-listing is likely to further deter investment in Lebanon and could affect the relationship between some Lebanese banks and the global financial system.