NEWS
Google Cloud ’ s inaugural Saudi Arabia Summit attracts 1,500 attendees
AI in the Saudi Arabia . The Google Cloud Summit Saudi Arabia underscored Google Cloud ’ s commitment to Saudi Arabia ’ s digital transformation journey and highlighted the significant growth and potential witnessed in the Saudi Arabia ’ s technology landscape .
Saudi Arabia ’ s position as a provider in technological innovation .”
The summit featured an engaging agenda with keynote presentations , breakout sessions , and interactive demos showcasing Google Cloud ’ s latest innovations in AI and data analytics . Prominent businesses like Saudi Airlines , ROSHN , and Almarai shared how they are innovating with cloud technologies and AI .
Abdul Rahman Al-Thehaiban
Google Cloud marked the first anniversary of the Dammam Cloud Region launch in Saudi Arabia with the inaugural Google Cloud Saudi Arabia Summit . Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Saudi Arabia Tower in Riyadh , the event brought together over 1,500 attendees ,
Bader Almadi
including Google Cloud partners , customers , government officials , and industry leaders , to celebrate the achievements of the past year and explore the future of cloud computing and
Bader Almadi , Country Manager for Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia , said : “ This summit marks a significant milestone in Google Cloud ’ s journey in Saudi Arabia .”
Abdul Rahman Al-Thehaiban , Managing Director , Türkiye , Middle East and Africa , Google Cloud , said : “ Building on the momentum of our recent announcement with the Public Investment Fund to establish a global AI hub in Saudi Arabia , Google Cloud is dedicated to advancing the
Recognising the vital role of startups and developers in the Saudi Arabia ’ s digital ecosystem , the summit offered dedicated programs to support their growth and innovation . The Founders Lunch provided a targeted gathering specifically for operators of early-stage startups . A dynamic group of speakers , including successful entrepreneurs , investors , and Google Cloud experts , shared invaluable insights on key topics such as fundraising , product development , marketing , and scaling a business .
SAS Forecasting Hackathon hosted by University of Jeddah included 60 teams
The SAS Forecasting Hackathon , held on November 4 – 5 , 2024 , and hosted by the University of Jeddah in collaboration with SAS , was a resounding success . The event showcased exceptional student talent and innovation , with all three winning teams composed entirely of female students , highlighting the growing leadership of Saudi women in the fields of AI and data science .
This inspiring event brought together 60 teams , comprising of 200 students competing across four tracks : Finance , Civil Defence , Environment , and Logistics . The hackathon showcased the ability of young innovators to tackle global challenges using cutting-edge technology and data analytics .
Students participated in hands-on workshops with SAS Visual Forecasting , a low-code , no-code solution . The knowledge was then applied to create advanced forecasting models , applying AI-driven insights to address key issues in their respective tracks . The jury assessed the projects based on several criteria , including how effectively the model addressed the business problem and provided actionable insights , the use of visualisation to clearly explain model performance , the application of innovative techniques , and the stability and accuracy of the forecasts . This rigorous evaluation ensured that the winning teams excelled across technical , analytical , and creative dimensions .
The hackathon aligns with Saudi Arabia ’ s vision of becoming a global provider in AI and innovation . Mohammed Kiki , General Manager of SAS in Saudi Arabia stated : “ We are grateful to the University of Jeddah for hosting SAS Forecasting hackathon . The outstanding achievements of these young women reaffirm the critical importance of fostering diversity and inclusion in technology .”
The SAS Forecasting Hackathon not only highlighted the remarkable capabilities of Saudi Arabia ’ s youth but also celebrated the extraordinary leadership of women in AI . This event stands as a testament to the country ’ s commitment to innovation , diversity , and equipping its workforce with future-ready skills .
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