Google Cloud has celebrated the one-year anniversary of its Dammam Cloud Region in Saudi Arabia with the launch of the inaugural Google Cloud Saudi Arabia Summit. The event took place at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Kingdom Tower in Riyadh and attracted more than 1,500 attendees, including partners, clients, industry leaders, and government officials. The gathering provided a platform to reflect on the progress made over the past year and explore the future of cloud technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the Kingdom.
The summit featured an engaging mix of keynote speeches, breakout sessions, and hands-on demonstrations, allowing participants to delve into the latest developments in cloud computing and AI. Notable companies such as Saudi Airlines, ROSHN, and Almarai took the stage to share how they’re using these cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and business transformation.
A key focus of the event was on supporting Saudi Arabia’s growing startup ecosystem. The Founders Lunch, a special session for early-stage entrepreneurs, offered invaluable insights on raising capital, scaling businesses, and refining product strategies. Entrepreneurs had the chance to hear from prominent figures such as Omar Shabaan, CEO of The Space, and Baraa Koshak, CEO of Abwab.ai, who shared their experiences and lessons learned on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Bader Almadi, the Country Manager for Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia, took to the stage to highlight the significance of the summit. In his address, he said, “This summit marks a significant milestone in Google Cloud’s journey in Saudi Arabia. We are committed to supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives by empowering businesses, government entities, and individuals with the transformative power of cloud technology and AI. We are confident that together, we can drive sustainable economic growth and establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub for digital innovation.”
The event also saw a statement from Abdul Rahman Al-Thehaiban, Managing Director for Google Cloud in Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa. He spoke about Google Cloud’s ongoing efforts to support the Kingdom’s technological ambitions, particularly through collaborations like their partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF). This partnership aims to create a global AI hub in Saudi Arabia, with Google Cloud investing heavily in infrastructure to further the Kingdom’s position as a leader in digital innovation. As Al-Thehaiban remarked, “We will continue investing in infrastructure and fostering a thriving ecosystem to unlock Saudi Arabia’s full potential.”
The summit served as both a celebration of Google Cloud’s first year in Saudi Arabia and a forward-looking discussion on the role of technology in shaping the country’s digital future. By bringing together key stakeholders, the event fostered collaboration and knowledge-sharing, highlighting Google Cloud’s ongoing commitment to helping businesses and developers harness the power of cloud technology to achieve their goals.
