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Saudi Arabia Hosts World Experts to Shape Cities' Future Using Smart Solutions

SDAIA achieved several accomplishments in data and artificial intelligence (Asharq Al-Awsat)
SDAIA achieved several accomplishments in data and artificial intelligence (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Hosts World Experts to Shape Cities' Future Using Smart Solutions

SDAIA achieved several accomplishments in data and artificial intelligence (Asharq Al-Awsat)
SDAIA achieved several accomplishments in data and artificial intelligence (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi capital will host Monday the first Global Smart Cities Forum, which brings together an elite group of world experts in building smart cities and artificial intelligence.

The Forum seeks to form an ambitious vision for the future of cities using smart solutions and drawing up basic rules that support city development plans to achieve sustainable urban development, consistent with one of the Vision 2030 goals, improving citizens' quality of life.

Mayors from global cities, data and artificial intelligence experts, digital solution specialists, smart city engineers, investors, and economic policymakers representing 40 countries will attend the two-day event organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) under "A Better Life."

The Forum will begin February 12 at The Arena Riyadh Venue.

Assistant Director for Advanced Recognition Technologies and Digital Identity (iDART) at the National Information Center (NIC) in SDAIA Hotham al-Twaijry said the Forum provides direct and significant support to the efforts of governments worldwide to adopt innovative models and smart solutions.

It contributes to raising services and public safety in smart cities.

Twaijry explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the event promotes environmental sustainability as part of the Kingdom's efforts to combat global warming, consolidate the values of sustainability, and make them part of society's culture.

- Motivating entrepreneurs

The Forum also aims to motivate businessmen from various countries to invest in smart, innovative solutions to balance human requirements and cities' economic prosperity.

It also seeks to support the creation of safe and sustainable environments in which the elements of modern life are combined, including digital services that help bring about the well-being of citizens.

The Assistant Director noted that the event aims to improve safety, reduce energy consumption, create more job opportunities, develop education, and improve health care and transportation.

He pointed out that the Kingdom is intensifying its efforts to improve the reality of smart cities and develop them to achieve Vision 2030 goals, which aim to achieve quality of life by improving city services.

- International level

Twaijry revealed that Riyadh advanced to 30th place globally and maintained its position as the third Arab city in the IMD Smart City Index (SCI), which saw Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah ranking 52nd, 56th, and 85threspectively.

He confirmed that these results were achieved due to adopting smart technologies to improve the standard of living and sustainability, demonstrating the Kingdom's forward-thinking approach to urban development and digitalization.

He revealed many positive initiatives undertaken by various competent authorities, such as the National Smart C Platform for smart cities, which shows a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to enhancing the level of services in cities.

The platform has advanced systems that ensure the improvement of the urban landscape in various cities of the Kingdom and contribute to building green cities based on data and innovation in artificial intelligence technologies.

- Sustainable practices

Twaijry added that the initiatives seek to have cities free of visual distortions and road congestion, supported by continuous efforts to develop residential areas with smart technology and sustainable practices.

They aim to balance the economic, technological, and human elements.

The Forum brings together more than 80 speakers from 40 countries and reviews the latest progress achieved by countries around the world, including the Kingdom, in terms of progress in smart city construction projects in light of Saudi Arabia's vision and in achieving the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development 2030.

The event seeks to enrich the future of smart cities in all its aspects and create an attractive social, economic, and tourist environment.

It is the first global Forum for smart cities organized in the Kingdom and aims to form an ambitious vision for the future, using smart solutions and drawing basic rules that support city development plans to achieve sustainable urban development.

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Business

Gold Heads for Steep Weekly Loss as Oil Prices Fuel Fed Rate Concerns

British gold bars and Sovereign gold coins are displayed at Baird & Co. in Hatton Garden, London (Reuters)
British gold bars and Sovereign gold coins are displayed at Baird & Co. in Hatton Garden, London (Reuters)
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Gold Heads for Steep Weekly Loss as Oil Prices Fuel Fed Rate Concerns

British gold bars and Sovereign gold coins are displayed at Baird & Co. in Hatton Garden, London (Reuters)
British gold bars and Sovereign gold coins are displayed at Baird & Co. in Hatton Garden, London (Reuters)

Gold eased on Friday, headed for its steepest weekly decline in over four months as elevated oil prices bolstered higher-for-longer interest rate expectations, while investors awaited next week's Federal Reserve policy meeting.

Spot gold eased 0.1% to $4,021.04 per ounce by 0554 GMT, paring losses slightly after touching its lowest level since July 20 earlier in the session. The metal has fallen ‌3.6% so far ‌this week, putting it on track for ‌its ⁠worst week since June.

US ⁠gold futures for December delivery dropped 0.6% to $4,035.50.

Speculators are trying to defend the key $4,000 level for gold because a clean break below would signal that the market has stopped pricing rate relief and started pricing sticky inflation, elevated yields, and a stronger dollar, said Monte Safieddine, head of market research at Capital.com.

Oil ⁠prices rose on Friday after Houthi attacks in ‌Saudi Arabia stoked concerns of further ‌disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East.

Elevated energy prices bolster expectations ‌of higher-for-longer interest rates by the Fed, increasing the opportunity cost ‌of holding non-yielding bullion.

"Any further escalation on the geopolitical front risks pushing oil even higher. Higher oil is reviving inflation fears, lifting yields, and delaying Fed easing. That is a difficult cocktail for bullion," ‌Safieddine added.

Focus has turned to the Fed's October 27-28 policy meeting and next week's Personal ⁠Consumption Expenditures ⁠data, a closely watched gauge because it is the central bank's preferred inflation measure for its 2% inflation target.

Traders are largely expecting the central bank to leave interest rates unchanged next week, but expectations for an interest rate hike in December remain at 76%.

Meanwhile, analysts at HSBC cut their average 2026 platinum and palladium price forecasts in a research note on Thursday, citing shifting market fundamentals and investor liquidation.

Among other metals, spot silver slid 0.4% to $54.31 per ounce, platinum rose 0.3% to $1,574.33 and palladium gained 0.3% to $1,056.49.

However, all three metals were headed for weekly declines.

Business

UK Govt Promises to Save Businesses £800 Million in Paperwork and Tariffs

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets pharmacy staff before receiving an annual seasonal flu vaccination at Kapoor Pharmacy Services in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester on October 22, 2026. (AFP)
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets pharmacy staff before receiving an annual seasonal flu vaccination at Kapoor Pharmacy Services in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester on October 22, 2026. (AFP)
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UK Govt Promises to Save Businesses £800 Million in Paperwork and Tariffs

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets pharmacy staff before receiving an annual seasonal flu vaccination at Kapoor Pharmacy Services in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester on October 22, 2026. (AFP)
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets pharmacy staff before receiving an annual seasonal flu vaccination at Kapoor Pharmacy Services in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester on October 22, 2026. (AFP)

British ‌Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Friday his government would help businesses save almost £800 million ($1 billion) a year by cutting back on paperwork and extending the suspension of some trade tariffs.

Speaking ahead of his government's first annual budget statement ‌next week, Burnham ‌said the measures ‌would ⁠give businesses "breathing space to ⁠grow".

The changes would make compliance guidance simpler and easier for small firms, saving £290 million, and extend £155 million of import tariff suspensions on 250 products ⁠used by businesses, Britain's finance ‌ministry ‌said.

Another measure would reduce duplicative reporting ‌burdens for asset management firms, ‌saving £105 million, and remove £116 million in costs for businesses involved in residential property transactions, the government said in ‌a statement.

British finance minister John Healey is due ⁠to ⁠announce his first budget on Wednesday next week and he has promised to reduce the cost of business as well as help households with the high cost of living – though his ambitions will be limited by the fragile state of the public finances.

Business

Oil Prices Rise as Supply Concerns Linger amid Middle East Attacks

Oil pumps operate after sunset outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France, March 18, 2026. (Reuters)
Oil pumps operate after sunset outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France, March 18, 2026. (Reuters)
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Oil Prices Rise as Supply Concerns Linger amid Middle East Attacks

Oil pumps operate after sunset outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France, March 18, 2026. (Reuters)
Oil pumps operate after sunset outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France, March 18, 2026. (Reuters)

Oil prices rose on Friday after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concerns of further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East.

Brent crude futures climbed 58 cents, or 0.5%, to $113.75 a barrel as of 0439 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 66 cents, or 0.7%, to $100.13.

On a weekly basis, Brent, which settled at its highest since May 4 on Thursday, is set to close higher for a third ‌successive week, while WTI ‌is on track to finish lower, ‌following ⁠two weeks of gains.

"Markets are increasingly worried about renewed escalation in the Gulf, a scenario that could threaten oil ⁠flows that have so far remained remarkably ‌resilient," ING analysts said in a ‌note on Friday.

"Re-escalation seems the most likely path. Even ‌if tensions don't re-escalate, the mere possibility is likely ‌to keep a sizeable geopolitical risk premium embedded in prices."

"The key factors ⁠to monitor ⁠now are the extent of actual disruption and the time needed to restore operations, as these will ultimately determine how much of a supply risk premium the market is willing to pay," said Linh Tran, an analyst at XS.com.

"If attacks persist and delay deliveries, elevated prices will have a firmer foundation."

In Libya, an oil pipeline valve from the Hamada and Tahara oilfields to Zawiya port has been shut, leading to a reduction in production at both fields, the head of the National Oil Corporation told Reuters on Thursday.