عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia Adopts Smart City Strategy

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Adopts Smart City Strategy

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has adopted a new strategy for smart cities, which aims to transform the municipal and residential sector services into smart services through digital technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The strategy aims to enhance economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and adequate government supervision.

The strategy was established with the participation of all the municipalities in the municipal sector. It was developed for each secretariat of its own, including a roadmap until 2030.

It identifies six goals that take into account the priorities and challenges of each region.

The Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing stated that over 50 initiatives will be launched in nine sectors by 2030.

The initiatives include smart parking and systems to preserve the environment and waste disposal, housing and smart community management, land and asset management, urban landscape improvement, and urban planning.

The ministry stressed that through the strategy, it aims to achieve three main goals: improving the quality of life of citizens, achieving financial sustainability, and improving the quality of services.

Smart cities will create solutions to the complex challenges associated with development, namely sustainability, congestion, transportation, and energy use. It seeks to improve the quality of life for all members of society.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Shell to Sell Gulf of America Assets to Two Companies for $1.7 billion

3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Shell plc logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration 
3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Shell plc logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration 
TT
TT

Shell to Sell Gulf of America Assets to Two Companies for $1.7 billion

3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Shell plc logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration 
3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Shell plc logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration 

Shell said on Tuesday it had agreed to sell its interest in the Na Kika platform and associated fields in the Gulf of America, along ‌with the Coulomb tieback, to subsidiaries of Talos Energy and Ridgewood Energy for $1.7 billion.

The assets produced about 37,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day net to Shell in 2025.

The transaction has an effective date of July 1, 2025, and is expected to close by the end of 2026.

Talos said its share of the consideration is $850 million, with final net cash consideration expected at $450 million to $500 million after interim cash flow from the effective date.

It added that it will acquire a 50% working interest and operatorship in Coulomb and a 25% non-operated stake in the BP-operated Na Kika platform and ‌four ⁠associated fields -- Kepler, Ariel, Fourier and Herschel.

The assets produced about 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first quarter of 2026, about 77% oil, and add roughly 23 million barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves.

Na ⁠Kika, Shell's only non-operated Gulf of America platform, began producing in 2003, while Coulomb started production in 2005.

Shell will retain certain upside-linked payments, royalty interests on new ⁠Na Kika tiebacks, and offtake rights.

BP, operator of Na Kika, retains the other 50% stake and has a 30-day preferential purchase right.

Shell's proved ⁠reserves at the end of 2025 were 4.3 million boe for Na Kika and 7.2 million boe for Coulomb.

 

 

 

 

Business

Saudi Arabia Retains ACAO Executive Council Seat for 2026-2028

President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz Al-Duailej. (SPA)
President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz Al-Duailej. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Retains ACAO Executive Council Seat for 2026-2028

President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz Al-Duailej. (SPA)
President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz Al-Duailej. (SPA)

The General Assembly of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) has renewed Saudi Arabia's membership on the ACAO Executive Council for the 2026–2028 term, reaffirming the Kingdom's prominent position in the civil aviation sector at both the Arab and international levels, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The newly elected Executive Council convened its inaugural meeting, during which President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz Al-Duailej was unanimously re-elected as president for a second consecutive term.

During its 29th General Assembly, the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) also renewed Saudi Arabia's membership on six technical committees for the 2026–2028 term: the Air Transport Committee, Air Safety Committee, Aviation Security Committee, Air Navigation Commission, Environment Committee, and Media and Institutional Communication Committee. The decision was accompanied by broad recognition from Arab member states of the Kingdom's leadership and its significant contributions to advancing and developing the civil aviation sector at both the regional and international levels.

Al-Duailej said Saudi Arabia's renewed membership on the Executive Council reflects the Kingdom's leadership and sustained contributions to advancing the Arab civil aviation sector. He added that the council's next phase will focus on strengthening Arab cooperation, enhancing regional integration, and developing unified strategies to address the future challenges facing the air transport industry.

Business

Saudi Arabia Underscores Importance of Digital Transformation in Water Sector

Saudi Arabia has stressed that digital transformation in the water sector has become a necessity. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia has stressed that digital transformation in the water sector has become a necessity. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Underscores Importance of Digital Transformation in Water Sector

Saudi Arabia has stressed that digital transformation in the water sector has become a necessity. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia has stressed that digital transformation in the water sector has become a necessity. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has stressed that digital transformation in the water sector has become an economic, environmental, and national imperative that enhances water security, improves resource management, and turns data into strategic decisions supporting sustainability.

The Kingdom noted that technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are key to reducing water losses, improving operational efficiency, and advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The remarks were made during a specialized panel discussion titled "Digital Transformation in the Water Sector: From Data to Decision," held by the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture as part of the inaugural Saudi Water Week, a five-day event taking place in Jeddah from June 28 to July 2, 2026.

During the session, the ministry outlined its vision for an integrated data platform, AI, and digital technologies to build a more efficient and sustainable water sector, enhance the quality of government services, support decision-making, and accelerate the sector's digital transformation.

The session covered several key themes, including the role of technology in the water sector and its contribution to water security, the impact of technology and data centers on water consumption, the use of data to drive smart operational decisions, successful international and domestic case studies, the AI role in detection, forecasting, and improving efficiency, as well as water sustainability and Water Use Efficiency (WUE) indicators.

Participants stressed that digital data exists across every water network, but that the real challenge lies in collecting, analyzing, and acting on it.

They also noted that international experience shows that every Saudi riyal invested in digitalization generates a fivefold return through reduced water losses and lower operating costs, thereby enhancing the sector's efficiency and improving the reliability of its services.