Saudi Arabia’s mining industry is on the brink of a significant transformation, fueled by the adoption of cutting-edge technologies like cloud computing. Speaking at the Oracle CloudWorld Tour Riyadh event, Abdullah Al-Osaimi, Senior Vice President of Procurement and Business Support at Ma’aden, emphasized the pivotal role of cloud solutions in advancing the sector.
“Mining is inherently dependent on cloud technology,” Al-Osaimi remarked during his interview with Arab News. “Our operations are often in remote, uninhabited areas, where the challenges are unique. Without a cloud strategy, managing such environments would be incredibly complex.”
Revolutionizing Exploration and Production
Cloud computing, alongside innovations like mobility and edge computing, is proving indispensable for improving exploration and production outcomes. Al-Osaimi shared Ma’aden’s ambitious growth vision, aiming to expand tenfold by 2040. “Scalability, cost-effectiveness, and operational efficiency are central to our strategy, and advanced cloud technologies are integral to achieving these goals,” he explained.
He also highlighted the Kingdom’s dedication to adopting emerging technologies as part of its Vision 2030 agenda, which positions mining as a key economic pillar. “We are not just testing globally innovative technologies; we’re localizing them to ensure they grow and thrive from within Saudi Arabia,” Al-Osaimi said.
Accelerating Development Timelines
Adopting cloud-based solutions is set to reduce traditional exploration-to-production timelines dramatically. “Typically, it takes around 15 years to move from discovery to full-scale production in mining. Our goal is to cut this timeline in half through advanced technology adoption,” Al-Osaimi stated. He further noted that artificial intelligence is playing a critical role in improving productivity and precision across Ma’aden’s operations.
Oracle’s Commitment to Saudi Arabia
Reham Al-Musa, Managing Director and Country Leader for Oracle Saudi Arabia, reaffirmed Oracle’s dedication to the Kingdom’s digital transformation. She highlighted Oracle’s $1.5 billion investment in expanding cloud capacity across the nation, which began with the opening of a data center in Jeddah in 2021. Additional facilities have since been established in NEOM and Riyadh.
Al-Musa noted that Saudi Arabia’s goal of becoming a hub for artificial intelligence aligns with Oracle’s efforts to provide generative AI and other advanced capabilities. Additionally, the company has introduced sovereign cloud services in partnership with Saudi Telecom Co., enabling regulated industries to benefit from the latest cloud technologies with enhanced security measures.
A Milestone in Public Sector Innovation
During the Oracle CloudWorld Tour event, it was revealed that the Al-Madinah Development Authority (MDA) has successfully implemented Oracle Fusion Cloud applications. This includes Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, Supply Chain and Manufacturing, and Human Capital Management. These technologies are expected to streamline supplier payments, enhance operational efficiency, and elevate productivity in the authority’s digital ecosystem.
A Landmark Event
Hosting the Oracle CloudWorld Tour in Riyadh for the first time, coinciding with Oracle’s 30th anniversary in Saudi Arabia, underscores the nation’s growing prominence in the tech industry. Al-Musa described the event as a testament to Oracle’s commitment to empowering Saudi organizations with state-of-the-art cloud and AI solutions.
As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in advanced technologies, the mining sector stands as a prime example of how innovation can drive economic diversification and long-term sustainability, in line with the nation’s Vision 2030.
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