Uhuru signs MOU with web Arabia for business development in Saudi Arabia

Uhuru Corporation (HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO, Takashi Sonoda, hereinafter, “Uhuru”) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with web Arabia, an IT company operating in the capital Riyadh, to promote smart city-related business in Saudi Arabia (HQ: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, CEO Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sabhan, (“Web Arabia”).

Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid change under its national reform strategy, Saudi Vision 2030. Following the lifting of the ban on tourist visas in 2019 a total of 106 million tourists, including 27.4 million foreigners in 2023 alone, have visited the Kingdom*. Additionally, construction of the giga-scale urban development project NEOM has also attracted attention. Against this background, the Uhuru has been active in promoting smart city projects in the country, such as the implementation of the Smart city research and development promotion program in collaboration with the national research organization of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KACST) in February 2024, making use of its experience in supporting tourism DX and smart city development in Japan. 

We are pleased to announce that Uhuru has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Web Arabia, an IT company and part of the Al Sabhan conglomerate, one of the conglomerates in Saudi Arabia. Based in Riyadh, Web Arabia specializes in smart city solutions and is a subsidiary of Metscco Heavy Steel Industries, a leading general engineering company responsible for infrastructure construction in Saudi Arabia. Leveraging Uhuru’s strengths in providing one-stop solutions from edge to cloud, combined with Web Arabia’s locally-rooted perspective, we aim to develop solutions that enhance convenience and safety for religious tourism, including Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), as well as solutions targeting urban infrastructure such as buildings, stadiums, airports, and mobility. By conducting proof-of-concepts (PoCs) locally, we will promote smart city-related projects tailored to the unique characteristics of the region.

*April 25, 2024, Saudi Arabia Press Agency https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2089591