Page 66 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Artificial Intelligence to Add More Than US$133 Billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to of the SDAIA, said at a launch event for and utilizing AI-analyzed data to detect
contribute an estimated SR500 billion the authority's new logo. The SDAIA seeks opportunities that could generate more
($133 billion) to the Kingdom’s gross to place the Kingdom among the world’s than SR40 billion in government savings
domestic product by 2030, according to leading economies by adopting AI. It is and additional revenues. Al-Ghamdi
the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence hosting a global AI summit at Riyadh’s emphasized the importance of data, citing
Authority (SDAIA). The SDAIA was King Abdulaziz International Conference a global expert who described data as
launched last August by royal decree and Center at the end of this month that will "oil of the 21st century" and a study from
is responsible for overseeing the country’s bring together stakeholders from the public global research firm Gartner that said the
data and AI strategy through the National sector, academia and the private sector. value of data would reach $2.9 trillion by
Data Management Office, the National “We at the SDAIA have been tasked with 2021 and generate around 3.4 million
Information Center, and the National defining the national data and AI strategy, jobs in AI-based data and analysis. “Data
Center for Artificial Intelligence. The SDAIA and delivering on our nation’s vision for the is the single most important driver of our
said the value of Saudi Arabia’s data and future by optimizing our national resources, growth and reform in the 21st century, and
AI economy was currently estimated at improving efficiencies and enabling the we have a clear vision and roadmap for
between SR15 - 20 billion, and that there creation of diversified economic sectors," transforming Saudi Arabia into a leading
was an opportunity to generate additional Al-Ghamdi told people at the launch event. AI and data-driven economy. The SDAIA is
revenues and savings of over SR40 billion He said that the SDAIA had made a lot of at the forefront of this transformation and
by harnessing data insights to help guide progress in its first year of operations. The is primed for national data and AI agenda
government decisions. “We have witnessed establishment of a national data bank had definition, implementation and awareness,"
firsthand the early impact of AI and data- consolidated more than 80 government said Al-Ghamdi. Around 70 percent of 96
driven initiatives and their potential to datasets, corresponding to 30 percent of strategic goals under Saudi Arabia’s Vision
propel Saudi Arabia’s future economy, but government digital assets. The authority 2030 reform plan are closely related to
we are still in the early stages with several aims to build one of the largest clouds data and AI.
untapped opportunities available,” Dr. in the region by merging 83 data centers
Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, president owned by over 40 government bodies,

TRA Puts on Hold Disconnection

of Mobile Phone Service Due to ID

Expiration

In support of "Stay Home" initiative, the Telecommunications
Regulatory Authority, TRA, in the UAE issued a circular to the
telecommunications companies to put on hold the suspension
and disconnection of mobile services due to the expiry of the
supporting documents and the Emirates ID.
Accordingly, mobile service of subscribers with expired ID
documents will not be disconnected or suspended, and they
will not have to go in person to the service centers, or provide
those documents to proceed with renewal of identification
documents. This step is part of the precautionary measures
and procedures taken by the UAE as a response to the Corona
virus, COVID-19 situation. TRA affirmed commitment to
launching initiatives that support all sectors in the country to
ensure the provision of the best services and achieve customer
happiness.

66 MARCH 2020