stc Group celebrates the 96th Saudi National Day and affirms its support for the Kingdom’s economic and digital transformations

stc Group linked its celebration of the 96th Saudi National Day to the economic and digital transformations taking place in the Kingdom, stressing continued investment in infrastructure and modern technologies, in a way that supports Saudi Arabia’s goals to enhance its presence in the digital economy.

Prince Mohammed bin Khalid Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the “stc” Group, in his name and on behalf of the group’s employees, extended congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and to the Saudi people on the occasion of National Day.

He said that the occasion represents an opportunity to recall the milestones that the Kingdom has gone through and the economic, social and developmental transformations it has witnessed, noting that the past decades have witnessed a continuous process of construction and development that has contributed to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position regionally and internationally.

Prince Mohammed bin Khalid added: “We are proud in the (stc) group to be part of this journey, and to continue to employ our capabilities and expertise in serving the Kingdom, and we are all confident in what the next phase will bring in terms of new opportunities and horizons for growth and prosperity.”

For his part, Engineer Alyan bin Mohammed Al Wataid, CEO of stc Group, said that the National Day comes at a time when the Kingdom continues to achieve rapid transformations in a number of sectors, indicating that the group is working to translate its strategy into projects and investments that support Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to strengthen its position within the global digital economies.

He explained that the group's role goes beyond traditional telecommunications services, to include developing the digital infrastructure, employing modern technologies, and expanding the digital services system, to keep pace with the growth witnessed by the Saudi economy and the increasing demand for technical solutions.

Al-Wataid pointed out that the 1447 Hajj season constituted one of the models for employing these capabilities, by providing digital services and communications infrastructure aimed at dealing with the significant increase in demand during the season, and benefiting from smart technologies and infrastructure to support the services provided to the pilgrims.

He stressed that the group intends to continue developing its technical capabilities and investments during the next stage, in parallel with the transformation that the Kingdom is witnessing, and to support the growth of the digital economy and develop an infrastructure capable of absorbing new technologies and services.

For the third day in a row, stc Group continues its activities on the occasion of the 96th Saudi National Day, under the slogan “Connected to Our Pride,” at its headquarters in the King Abdulaziz Communications Complex, through a program that combines the cultural heritage of the Kingdom’s regions with modern interactive experiences.

The events highlight the cultural and regional diversity of the Kingdom, by evoking the features of the five regions. Central, Western, Southern, Eastern and Northern, through a group of interactive stations that introduce the local heritage of each region and its distinctive arts, crafts and cultural customs.

The events included live music performances and folk arts, in addition to experiences related to handicrafts and local arts, which allowed participants to learn about a number of heritage practices for which the regions of the Kingdom are famous, including the manufacture of Taif rose perfumes, coloring a mural inspired by the art of the Asiri cat, and learning about the making of the Hasawi bisht.

In parallel with the heritage manifestations, the event employed modern technologies to present elements of the national heritage in interactive ways, including experiences based on augmented reality, in addition to the “Map of Light,” in an attempt to combine cultural heritage and modern technologies, and highlight the diversity that characterizes the regions of the Kingdom in conjunction with the transformations that the country is witnessing in a number of fields.

The celebrations witnessed the participation of the group’s employees in a collective national painting to the tunes of the national anthem, in addition to a number of accompanying activities and experiences that continue throughout the days of the event, amid an atmosphere that evoked features of national identity, cultural diversity, and local heritage of the various regions of the Kingdom.

The third day of celebrations includes a group of activities dedicated to stc Group employees, including drawings for various gifts and prizes, as part of the event program that brings together the group’s employees on an occasion that recalls the cultural heritage of the Kingdom and the diversity of its regions in conjunction with the celebration of the 96th Saudi National Day.

These events fall within the internal programs organized by stc Group on the occasion of National Day, and this year it focuses on providing experiences that introduce the cultural and geographical diversity of the Kingdom, by mixing elements of local heritage with modern interactive technologies, and providing a space for the group’s employees to participate in celebrating the national occasion.

By evoking the local heritage of various regions, the activities reflect part of the transformations that accompanied the Kingdom’s journey, while preserving the elements of the cultural identity that distinguishes each region, at a time when the pace of technical, economic and social development in the country is accelerating.

The organization of the celebrations comes within the framework of the group’s participation in the occasion of the 96th Saudi National Day, which represents an annual station to recall the Kingdom’s journey and national identity, and highlight the cultural and heritage diversity of its regions, in addition to the rapid transformations it is witnessing in various sectors.

Falih Al-Falih, the entrepreneur, confirmed that Saudi Arabia is moving at an accelerated pace towards consolidating its position as one of the most prominent investment and economic destinations in the region, based on the objectives of the “Kingdom’s Vision 2030”, and the economic and legislative reforms it has produced that have contributed to diversifying sources of income, strengthening the role of the private sector, and creating an attractive investment environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.

Al-Falih explained that the tourism and industry sectors today represent two basic pillars in the national development process, in light of the major projects taking place in the Kingdom, and the accompanying development of infrastructure, improving the business environment, and empowering investors, which contributes to raising the contribution of non-oil sectors to the domestic product, increasing investment opportunities, and creating more quality jobs for citizens.

He pointed out that the rapid development witnessed by the retail sector reflects the scale of the economic transformation that the Kingdom is experiencing, stressing that the Saudi consumer has become more aware and interested in quality and innovation, which prompts national companies to invest in developing their products and services, raising quality standards, and enhancing local content, in line with international best practices.

He added that the national industry has today become one of the main engines of the economy, thanks to continuous government support, localization programs, and investment incentives, which has enhanced the ability of Saudi products to compete in local, regional, and international markets, and contributed to building a more diversified and sustainable industrial base.

Regarding the tourism sector, Al-Falih explained that the Kingdom possesses exceptional elements that qualify it to be a global tourist destination, including geographical diversity, cultural heritage, and giant tourism projects, in addition to hosting international, sporting and cultural events, stressing that the next stage requires greater integration between the public and private sectors to develop services, attract investments, and raise the quality of the tourism experience.

He also stressed the importance of supporting entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises, as one of the most important engines of economic growth, calling for continued investment in national competencies, providing a stimulating environment for innovation, enhancing the culture of self-employment, and empowering young people to lead specific projects that contribute to achieving sustainable development.

Falih Al-Falih said: “The unprecedented economic and development transformation we are witnessing today is the result of an ambitious vision and wise leadership that has put people and development at the top of its priorities. The Kingdom has become a global model in building a diversified and sustainable economy, and the private sector has become a major partner in achieving these goals. We believe that investing in Saudi people, supporting national industry, promoting tourism, and empowering entrepreneurs are the keys to the next stage, and we will continue to work on presenting initiatives and projects that contribute to strengthening the national economy, raising the Kingdom’s competitiveness, and consolidating its position as a global destination for investment, tourism, and innovation.”

Al-Falih concluded by stressing that the next stage requires continuing to work in a spirit of partnership and responsibility, and investing in the promising opportunities provided by the “Kingdom’s Vision 2030”, in a way that enhances economic growth, raises the quality of life, and supports the comprehensive development process that the Kingdom is witnessing in various sectors.