Saudi Arabia: Telecom licenses designed to drive SR1 billion ($267 million) investment in Saudi Arabia were announced during LEAP 2025, as tech and tourism partnerships were also unveiled.

The conference, being held in Riyadh, saw a focus on digital innovation, sustainable luxury, and artificial intelligence adoption.

The major investment deals and strategic partnerships showcased at the event further cemented the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for digital transformation.

CST grants 4 telecom licenses

Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space, and Technology Commission announced on Feb. 12 the issuance of four licenses, including those for carrier service providers, telecommunication services, and non-terrestrial network operations.

The move aims to drive the development of advanced smart infrastructure, enable the latest technologies, improve service competition, and attract more investment to support growth in Saudi Arabia’s telecom sector, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

CST granted carrier service provider licenses to Water Transmission and Technologies Co., Saudi Arabia Railways, and Raqeem Smart Solutions.

The permit allows utility companies to provide excess telecommunications infrastructure capacity, such as fiber optics and towers, to licensed individual service providers.

The licenses were presented to the companies during a formal ceremony attended by Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, CST governor; Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim, president of the Saudi Water Authority; Mamdouh Al-Shuaibi, vice president of sustainability at SWA; and Omar Al-Rejraje, CST deputy governor for the regulation and competition sector.

The permit granted to WTCO will enable companies to offer services to individual license holders, optimize infrastructure, expand telecom services, and drive digital transformation. 

Meanwhile, SAR’s license is expected to boost the telecom sector, with investments in fiber-optic cables along railway routes, extending services to remote areas through its network on northern and eastern corridors.

The authorization awarded to Raqeem is expected to attract investments and enhance telecom services for the Kingdom’s industrial infrastructure, as per SPA.

CST also granted a general class license, along with permits for providing telecom services via non-terrestrial networks and operating NTN services, to SKYFive Arabia. 

The authorization, presented to the company’s CEO Mohammed Abdulrahim, allows the company to develop advanced satellite communication solutions, improving aviation connectivity in the Kingdom.

This allowance enables efficient in-flight connectivity for commercial aircraft, improving services for Saudi citizens and visitors and supporting quality of life and digital transformation.

ROSHN signs key deals for digital transformation

ROSHN Group, a Saudi leading multi-asset class developer and part of the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, has signed several memorandums of understanding as part of its commitment to digital transformation.

According to a press release, a partnership was inked with Saudi Information Technology Co. to collaborate on managed detection and response, cybersecurity advisory, and cloud services. 

It also struck a deal with T2 company to advance research in emerging technology and property technology solutions and with Jahez Group to further develop smart mobility infrastructure for autonomous, electric vehicle-based delivery services.

During the conference, ROSHN Group was honored with the Top Google Cloud Customer Accelerated Growth Award, a testament to its approach to leveraging advanced cloud technologies. 

Globant, Red Sea Global to focus on luxury tourism

Globant, a leading technology firm specializing in digital solutions, has teamed up with Red Sea Global to develop a digital program to enhance the visitor experience at one of the Kingdom’s major tourism projects.

According to a statement, the initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, showcasing the nation’s commitment to sustainable and technologically advanced tourism.

The program centers around a robust, digitally enabled ecosystem integrating advanced technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things, and data analytics.

The release added that this connected visitor experience will provide intuitive, real-time interactions tailored to individual preferences.

Sultan Moraished, group head of technology and corporate excellence at RSG, said: “The Red Sea destination represents a bold vision for the future of tourism, one that combines luxury, technology, and sustainability in perfect harmony.”

Moraished added that partnering with Globant is a significant step toward creating a connected experience that will set a global standard, not just for the region but for destinations worldwide.

Federico Pienovi, chief business officer and CEO of new markets at Globant, said the partnership with RSG shows how technology can reshape tourism by focusing on the visitor, creating an ecosystem centered around convenience, personalization, and sustainability.

Accenture, Google Cloud boost AI in Saudi Arabia

Global professional services company Accenture announced on Feb. 11 that it will extend its Joint Generative AI Center of Excellence to Saudi Arabia, building on its international collaboration with Google Cloud,

The initiative aims to help organizations create new business opportunities and improve customer experiences by establishing a modern digital core and scaling generative AI agents to enhance operational efficiency and enterprise intelligence, according to a statement from Accenture.

Majid Al-Tuwaijri, Saudi Arabia chair and country managing director at Accenture, said that being ready for continuous reinvention hinges on a modern digital core to seize every opportunity rapidly.

“We are expanding our joint Accenture and Google Cloud Generative AI CoE to bring new capabilities to the region and transform how Saudi organizations can reinvent products, services and experiences,” he said.

Al-Tuwaijri added that their partnership with Google Cloud aims to help clients in Saudi Arabia accelerate business outcomes in new ways. 

“We are unique because our strategy brings together key stakeholders to pioneer digital sovereignty and to develop systems that are not only secure and compliant but also resilient and future-ready,” he said.

Bader Al-Madi, general manager of Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia, said that organizations need a combination of leading technology and services expertise to successfully deploy generative AI.

He added: “With Google Cloud’s advanced capabilities and Accenture’s industry expertise, customers will have access to the resources needed to plan, deploy, and optimize generative AI projects.”

In its statement, Accenture pointed out that this expansion can help rapidly transform ideas into tangible value by combining the latest Google Cloud technologies with the services company’s industry-tested solutions and services with significant generative AI projects in production.

It added that experts from both companies will work closely with clients to identify transformative use cases and rapidly develop and scale them in production for strategic advancements.