Smart cities are becoming the future landscape of urban planning. By integrating innovative technology, you can experience enhanced quality of life, sustainability, and hassle-free daily activities.
Considering global trends, Smart Cities Saudi Expo 2024 was held from September 24 to September 26 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Many growing companies, including Conure Technology Services, got a chance to showcase their smart city projects there.
In this article, you will gain the highlights of some unique projects presented at the Smart Cities Saudi Expo and learn where Saudi Arabia is heading regarding technology. You will also learn how Saudi Arabia is adapting growing technological trends for sustainable smart city infrastructure.
Overview of Smart Cities Saudi Expo 2024
This three-day event underscored the pivotal role of robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and smart solutions in urban development. It also highlighted the importance of the audience’s contributions in shaping the future of smart cities, encouraging them to showcase their smart projects and ideas.
Visitors and exhibitors gained valuable insights into smart solutions, advanced technologies, and industry trends. High-profile decision-makers from the private and government sectors visited different booths at the Smart City Expo, allowing representatives of different companies to present powerful sales messages to drive their business forward. Startups and entrepreneurs must make strong business connections and propose their ideas for urban development in Saudi Arabia.
Every year, such events provide a valuable platform for trade and support for professionals in the smart city sector. They offer a unique opportunity for architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, real estate developers, distributors, and consultants to excel in their projects and thrive in a new world of innovation.
Key Themes
Smart Cities Saudi Expo 2024 covered a wide spectrum of smart city development. Key themes were:
1. Sustainable Urban Planning
Sustainable urban planning was a key theme that focused on developing an eco-friendly and resilient urban environment. Companies proposed solutions to promote green building developments, integration of renewable energy practices, and strategies to reduce carbon footprints.
2. IoT Integration
IoT integration is the main element of sustainable smart city planning. Startups focus on engaging with potential clients and presenting them with how IoT optimizes public services like parking, traffic flow, waste management, home automation, and quality of life. Different IoT projects like ParkSmart were the main highlight of Smart Cities Saudi Expo 2024.
3. Digital Infrastructure
Digital infrastructure is the building block for smart cities, allowing data-driven decision-making and robust connectivity. The event showcased technologies like 5g connectivity, cloud computing, digital twining, and AI-powered systems that support urban development and sustainable planning.
4. Smart Transportation
Managing traffic and reducing carbon footprints are the major necessities for Saudi city urban planning. Considering this, local and international exhibitors discussed future projects, including smart public transportation, smart parking, autonomous vehicles, video surveillance, citizen engagement platforms, e-government series, digital identity, open data initiatives, and smart traffic management. All these solutions aim to reduce traffic congestion, update traffic regulations, and improve citizens’ driving experience.
5. Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency was a significant theme, highlighting innovations in smart grids, renewable energy sources, and systems for reducing energy consumption in urban areas. The focus was on leveraging technology to create energy-efficient buildings and optimizing city-wide energy usage to support sustainability.
Exhibition Highlights
The Smart Cities Saudi Expo 2024 featured an extensive array of showcases and exhibits that emphasized cutting-edge solutions for smart city development:
1. Innovative Startups
Startups participated massively in the expo and showcased projects on urban data analytics, green technologies, and sustainability. Their groundbreaking products highlighted how emerging technologies can be applied to meet urban development challenges. Startups gained many potential clients and had a chance to gain mutual benefits by working in the Saudi market.
2. Major Exhibitors
Prominent tech companies like Smart Citizens Ltd, TATA Communication, and Sohab Ltd. participated in the event and presented the latest innovative ideas and solutions to meet Saudi Vision 2030. Their solutions ranged from AI-powered management to automation and cybersecurity and highlighted all the major issues targeted in Saudi urban development projects.
3. International Partnerships
One of the major aims of this expo was to establish partnerships with international experts, innovators, and businesspeople who can add value to Saudi Arabia’s goal of smart city development. Saudi government representatives and private company holders showed keen interest in initiating collaborative projects to streamline infrastructure and enhance sustainability.
4. Economic Growth Potential
The Saudi Arabia smart cities market was valued at USD 3,552.1 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 14,745.2 million by 2027. These stats show huge growth potential in the Saudi market, which benefits both Saudi investors and companies partnering with them to implement smart solutions.
5. Smart Solutions
Different company representatives proposed numerous smart solutions to revolutionize urban planning in Saudi Arabia. IoT-based services, such as smart lighting, waste collection systems, and water management, were presented to enhance city services through connected infrastructure.
Digital platforms for city services were presented to allow residents to interact with city administration more effectively and easily. Energy management technologies like smart grids and energy-efficient solutions were also proposed to support sustainable urban growth.
Successful Participation of Conure Technology Services
Conure Technology Services got a chance to showcase its revolutionizing IoT products at Smart Cities Expo 2024. The products that gained the most positive responses are discussed here:
1. OLIOS-LPR
OLIOS is a license plate recognition solution (LPR) that incorporates smart software and smart cameras installed on streets, parking lots, or gated communities to scan and detect any unauthorized vehicle passing by.
It is used as a smart parking enforcement solution that identifies parked vehicles by their license plates and determines whether their parking sessions are authorized. It is also used at the parking entrance to ensure that the residential parking gets secure access control at the entry point.
One major reason this product received attention was its focus on the Saudi market’s need for secure buildings and parking areas. The success of OLIOS-LPR is represented by its implementation in St. Pete Beach, Florida. It helps ensure that only authorized vehicles are parked, helping with parking enforcement and security management.
2. TrackPro
TrackPro offers real-time fleet tracking management that helps fleet managers track their assets and minimize the probability of inefficiencies and operations delays. Saudi entrepreneurs are more focused on improving their supply chain management and fleet operations; therefore, TrackPro showed huge potential with its advanced features designed to help Saudi companies track and manage their fleet operations in real time.
3. ParkSmart
ParkSmart provides users with real-time parking occupancy guidance via mobile or web. They can easily navigate the nearby parking lot via digital signage and gain information about available parking spots from the mobile app. ParkSmart was the most highlighted product at the expo because buildings are shifting towards automation in Saudi Arabia, and smart parking is one of its major parameters.
ParkSmart Application has already made its mark in Saudi Arabia by successfully deploying at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) in Dhahran. This achievement marks a significant leap forward in smart city infrastructure, redefining how people find parking spaces.
4. HIVE
HIVE is a smart building management solution that allows you to monitor and manage every sensor installed in your building, such as HVAC, water leak detection, smart lock, temperature, and humidity. Saudi clients responded immensely positively to HIVE, opening opportunities to expand in the hospitality and healthcare sectors.
In the hospitality sector, HIVE offers to enhance guest experience. By controlling room temperature, security, humidity, HVAC, and lighting, hotel managers can ensure client comfort and provide them with a personalized experience.
HIVE can manage critical environments like clinics and hospitals in the healthcare sector. It can maintain air quality, humidity, temperature, and lighting. This ensures patient comfort and helps physicians work in a healthy, secure environment.
Post-Event Analysis
The Smart Cities Saudi Expo 2024 was a great opportunity to improve urban development in Saudi Arabia. It allowed entrepreneurs to increase networking, propose new ideas, and collaborate with Saudi companies. The expo facilitated dynamic discussion among stakeholders from different industries, focusing on smart transportation, digital infrastructure, sustainable urban planning, and IoT integration.
The key outcomes of the expo are:
1. Positive Industry Response
Saudi industry leaders responded immensely positively to companies from all over the world. Visitors interacted with representatives of different industries and praised the comprehensive range of smart solutions presented, from renewable energy integration to AI-powered city management systems.
2. Strategic Partnerships
The expo catalyzed new deals and partnerships among different stakeholders. Strategic partnerships were formed between local government bodies and tech companies, including agreements with Conure Technology Services to implement IoT solutions for urban projects. HIVE received an enormous response from healthcare sector exhibitors interested in deploying smart building management in their hospitals and clinics.
3. Economic Support
The expo also highlighted the growing availability of economic support initiatives, including private support projects, grants, and government funding. The purpose was to support entrepreneurs in reflecting their skills and contributing effectively to accelerating the development of smart city infrastructure. The support programs and funding options addressed financial barriers faced in urban development and helped the companies to prosper.
Future Outlook and Impact
Smart Cities Saudi Expo 2024 set a strong foundation for implementing smart city initiatives promptly, in line with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision. Saudi Arabia is focused on technology integration to facilitate its citizens. Hence, it provides numerous opportunities for international businesses and contractors to work in Saudi Arabia and contribute to urban development.
Saudi Arabia’s economy is undergoing massive transformation because of its focus on implementing projects to reduce oil dependence, enhance sustainable initiatives, enhance job opportunities, and diversify income resources. Ultimately, numerous opportunities are opened for local and international businesses to grow in the IT sector, gain competitive advantage, and work on different smart city projects.
To Sum Up
The Smart City Saudi Expo 2024 marked a pivotal step in shaping the future of urban development in Saudi Arabia. Participants presented numerous solutions for the market related to IoT integration, sustainability, and digital infrastructure. Companies worldwide showcased smart solutions and highlighted the growing commitment to building intelligent, sustainable, and resilient systems for smart cities in Saudi Arabia.
This event opened opportunities for local and international startups, followed by funding support and partnerships. The Saudia expo highlighted the growing demand for innovative projects and business deals to improve living in Saudi Arabia.
