IN line with its commitment to support the Ministry of Communications and Information technology's strategic objectives to drive the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030, Oracle announced the opening of its first innovation hub in Saudi Arabia. The new hub is dedicated to driving the implementation of latest digital technologies including Artificial Intelligence; Blockchain; Machine Learning; Internet of Things (IoT) across the country's public sector, corporate entities and academia. Located at Oracle's Riyadh office, the new innovation hub was inaugurated by His Excellency Vice Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Haitham Abdulrahman Al-Ohali at an event that was attended by key dignitaries and executives. Al-Ohali said "digital transformation is a vital part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. We live in an age where data is the ‘new oil' and given the rapid global economic changes that are unfolding around us, we are constantly moving ahead to keep Saudi Arabia up to pace with the fourth industrial revolution". He added: «There is no doubt that spreading the culture of digital transformation will enhance the growth and development of the Kingdom and will enable Saudis to harvest the opportunities and benefits that come with it in the near future." He stressed: "A digital Saudi Arabia can only be created through seamless collaboration amongst all stakeholders. We welcome Oracle's initiative to establish an innovation hub in Riyadh to support our vision and enable the country's tech entrepreneurs to enter the digital economy." The new innovation hub will also act as a platform for Oracle customers, partners and other stakeholders to better understand the potential of emerging technologies and co-create industry specific innovations with top Oracle experts. "Digital transformation is at the heart of strategic government programs like the Vision 2030 and NTP 2020, as digital solutions are helping create an automated infrastructure for the implementation of these initiatives," said Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Senior Vice President – Technology, MEA & CEE, Oracle. "Organizations in Saudi Arabia now understand the importance of digital transformation and this is reflected in IDC's ICT spend estimate of 35 billion USD in Saudi Arabia . Oracle's innovation hub will help raise awareness levels of key stakeholders, encourage an innovative approach and also support the skills development of next generation of Saudi leaders". "Oracle's innovation hub in Riyadh will serve as the ultimate platform for experimentation and implementation of digital technologies in Saudi Arabia", said Fahad Al Turief, Country Leader, Oracle Saudi Arabia. "The launch of this new hub, announcement of a new data center in Saudi Arabia and a host of training programs with leading Saudi universities and start up hubs are solid evidence of Oracle's commitment to continuously invest in enhancing our local capabilities in Saudi Arabia." Oracle has been present in Saudi Arabia for nearly three decades and its digital solutions have been instrumental in driving digital transformation across the country's public and private sector.
