JEDDAH, 9 August 2006, 9 August 2006 — The government yesterday announced plans to establish the country’s first information technology park in Riyadh. The Saudi Industrial Cities Commission (SICC) has licensed the park designed to attract investment projects in information technology and communications.
Abdullah Al-Seif, director general of the commission, described the project as a major step toward expanding advanced technological facilities required by businessmen and investors in the Kingdom and creating an attractive environment for the national economy to grow.
The Information Technology and Communications Complex will be established in Al-Nakheel District, west of Riyadh. Spread over an area of 800,000 square meters, the park will be located close to King Saud University and King Abdul Aziz City of Science and Technology.
Muhammad Al-Kharashi, governor of the Pension Fund that is an investor in the facilities, said the project would provide advanced infrastructure to promote IT industries in the country. SICC’s move to license the park comes following the announcement in June about plans to establish a Knowledge Economic City in Madinah.
The Madinah project will comprise various zones designed to complement each other: a technology and KBI zone; an advanced IT studies institute; an interactive museum on the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); a center for Islamic civilization studies; a campus for medical research and life sciences; an integrated medical services zone; a retail zone; a business district; residential zones including high rises, houses, and fully-serviced apartments; shopping malls; and a mosque with a 10,000-worshipper capacity.
“This vital project falls well within plans to upgrade the Kingdom’s regions in a sustainable fashion taking into consideration each region’s competitive advantages,” said Amr Al-Dabbagh, governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority that initiated the economic city project.
“Given Madinah’s historic stance as the launch pad of Islamic culture by the Prophet more than 14 centuries ago, the project is a renaissance of sorts as Madinah will be used to launch knowledge-based industries,” the SAGIA chief said in a statement.
