Naver Seals $100M Deal for Saudi Digital Twin Platform Project

South Korea‘s prominent web portal giant, Naver Corp., has inked a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH) for a digital twin platform project. The agreement, valued at approximately $100 million, was confirmed on Monday, with Naver’s shares increasing by more than 1 percent.

Naver, also known as ‘Team Naver,’ disclosed that it will lead the initiative to construct a national digital twin platform for MOMRAH in Saudi Arabia, focusing on five cities, including the capital Riyadh. The platform’s deployment will encompass Riyadh, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam, and Mecca. 

As part of this digital transformation (DX) project, Naver, which accompanied South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol during his state visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, will develop and manage a cloud-based 3D digital modeling digital twin platform over the next five years. 

The Saudi government plans for the digital twin platform, primarily focusing on its utilization in city planning and flood forecasting, which impacts the daily lives of the Saudi populace. Naver Corp. will take the lead on this project, with active involvement of Naver Labs and Naver Cloud. 

Digital Twin technology, which replicates real-world entities within a virtual environment, plays a key role in real-time decision-making processes by enabling data analysis, prediction, and optimization. 

The platform’s cloud-based, 3D digital modeling approach will facilitate the creation of smart cities as it bridges technology innovation and urban development. In addition to Saudi Arabia’s direct public services, the project aims to maintain and evolve the digital twin platform as a continuous and long-term national infrastructure, integrating advanced technologies like AI, robotics, and cloud solutions.

“Thanks to our strong IT capabilities, we are set to drive the second wave of the export boom to the Middle East,” stated Chae Seon-ju, Head of Naver’s Communication and Social Responsibility. 

She emphasized, “Naver will serve as a bridge enabling Korean IT startups to expand into the Middle East.”

Naver plans to build not only the  Digital Twin platform but also to foster innovation by integrating advanced technologies, including AI, robotics, and cloud-based solutions. The project places emphasis on maintaining an open-ended architectural approach, promoting ongoing collaborations with both local Saudi organizations and their South Korean counterparts. 

This endeavor is a milestone, achieved within a year of Naver’s collaboration with Saudi Arabia as a member of ‘One Team Korea,’ hosted by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in November the previous year. 

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