Saudi SITE Acquires 10% Stake in South Korea’s AhnLab

The signing ceremony of the joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s SITE and South Korea’s AhnLab (Supplied)
The signing ceremony of the joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s SITE and South Korea’s AhnLab (Supplied)
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Saudi SITE Acquires 10% Stake in South Korea’s AhnLab

The signing ceremony of the joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s SITE and South Korea’s AhnLab (Supplied)
The signing ceremony of the joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s SITE and South Korea’s AhnLab (Supplied)

AhnLab, a leading cybersecurity company based in South Korea, has announced its partnership with the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE), a security and cloud service enterprise fully funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), to establish a joint venture (JV) focused on cybersecurity.

Under the deal, SITE will acquire a 10% share of AhnLab for $55.3 million.

In an official statement, the companies announced that AhnLab will hold a 25% stake in the JV, with SITE holding the remaining 75%. The companies aim to complete the establishment of the JV within the first half of this year through joint investment.

This strategic move by AhnLab marks its expansion into the Middle East and North Africa region, leveraging the partnership with SITE. The JV is poised to offer AhnLab’s state-of-the-art security solutions, including the cloud and AI-based SaaS security threat analysis platform AhnLab XDR, to local government agencies and businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, the JV plans to provide AhnLab’s solutions and services in network security products to further strengthen cyber defenses in the region.

This partnership aims to expand cybersecurity services in the Middle East and North Africa, tapping into SITE’s strong market presence in Saudi Arabia. They plan to offer advanced solutions like AI-driven security and IoT protection in the future.

Sukkyoon Kang, CEO of AhnLab, expressed optimism about the JV.

“This JV establishment signifies a long-term collaboration based on the strengths of both companies to grow together in the Middle East region,” he said.

“Through this venture, we anticipate showcasing AhnLab’s cyber security, cloud, and AI capabilities in the Middle East, driving global revenue growth,” added the CEO.

On his part, Saad Al-Aboodi, CEO of SITE, said: “This new joint venture is one of many ambitious investments that SITE is developing.”

“We recognize our strategic role to localize top-tier cybersecurity technologies in our country and the region as a whole, to address the ever-growing market dynamics and demands while maintaining the highest standards of excellence to our clients in both the public and private sector,” he added.

Established in 2017, SITE aims to enhance local content and secure national infrastructure through digital and cybersecurity solutions, contributing to a sustainable knowledge-based economy.



Unprecedented Participation Expected at International Mining Conference in Riyadh on Tuesday

Ali Al-Mutairi, general supervisor of the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ali Al-Mutairi, general supervisor of the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Unprecedented Participation Expected at International Mining Conference in Riyadh on Tuesday

Ali Al-Mutairi, general supervisor of the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ali Al-Mutairi, general supervisor of the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Riyadh is preparing to host the fourth edition of the International Mining Conference on Tuesday under the patronage of King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz.
This year’s event has drawn an unprecedented number of participants, with over 20,000 registrations. It will feature the attendance of global CEOs, industry leaders, and executives from related sectors, who will gather to tackle the mining sector’s key challenges and offer innovative, sustainable solutions to advance the industry’s future.
Ali Al-Mutairi, general supervisor of the conference, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the conference, running from January 14 to 16, will kick off with the fourth International Ministerial Meeting on Mining Affairs. The meeting will host senior government representatives from 85 countries, along with 50 leaders from multilateral organizations, NGOs, and business associations.
This year’s edition introduces several groundbreaking initiatives, including a “Knowledge Exchange Day,” which will serve as a platform to share the latest advancements in geology, technology, and sustainability.
Al-Mutairi also revealed that the event will host the first “Centers of Excellence and Technology Meeting,” designed to establish a regional network to develop expertise and accelerate innovation in mining.
Additionally, the second meeting of leaders from international geological survey organizations will take place, featuring prominent institutions such as the US Geological Survey, the British Geological Survey, the French Geological Survey, and the Finnish Geological Survey. This meeting aims to enhance global collaboration and leverage advanced technologies to drive sector development.
The conference is expected to see the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding between local and international stakeholders, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to establishing itself as a global mining hub. The event further supports efforts to foster international cooperation and sustainable development in this vital sector.
Over 250 prominent speakers, including senior executives and experts, will participate in this year’s conference. Their contributions will open avenues for international partnerships and help explore strategic investment opportunities in mining.
Under the theme “Achieving Impact,” the conference continues the international dialogue on the future of mining and minerals, with the aim to strengthen global cooperation to meet energy transition goals and advance modern industries.
Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s vision to position mining as a cornerstone of its national economy, the event will address critical topics such as exploration, technological innovation, sustainability, and value-added chains. The event highlights the country’s ongoing efforts to empower the mining sector and ensure it serves as a key pillar of economic growth and diversification.