Makkah Smart City project gets a boost

Plans to transform Makkah into a smart city with advanced technological facilities received a big boost on Wednesday following a Jeddah meeting of senior government officials and executives of leading global IT companies that discussed how best to fulfill this vision. Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal chaired the meeting held at his office. Speaking on the occasion, Prince Khaled highlighted the significance of taking advantage of highly advanced technological facilities for the ongoing massive development of the holy city. “The King Abdullah Project for the development of Makkah and the holy sites would tap into latest advances to build a technological infrastructure in order to transform Makkah into a smart city,” he said. The meeting discussed various measures to be taken to implement the ambitious project. Discussions were also held on how to take best advantage of the King Abdullah Project. The governor was briefed on the presentations made by global IT companies that are taking part in implementing the project. Prince Khaled had earlier announced that Makkah would be developed into a smart city with the Grand Mosque as its focal point over the next six years. The meeting was attended by Mayor of Makkah Dr. Osama Al-Bar, undersecretary at the Makkah governorate Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Khudairy and Dr. Sami Barhameen, secretary-general of the Authority for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites. Representatives of companies such as Google, Microsoft and SESCO as well as the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) were also present.