Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 16, Palestinian officials say

KPMG has released its latest annual technology report, “Beyond the Hype: Balancing Speed, Security, and Value,” providing insights into the Kingdom’s digital transformation. Based on a global survey with 2,450 global technology executives — including 70 based in Saudi Arabia — the report explores how organizations adapt to fast-changing technologies, optimize investments, and tackle challenges like technical debt and cybersecurity. A key theme is the fear of missing out, which drives some organizations to adopt emerging technologies rapidly. While urgency is understandable, it carries risks if not guided by evidence-based approaches.

“This year’s findings underscore the tremendous progress Saudi Arabia is making in its digital transformation journey, driven by a strategic focus on balancing innovation with resilience. As organizations prioritize emerging technologies like AI and everything-as-a-service, it is clear that evidence-based decision-making and addressing foundational challenges such as technical debt are critical to unlocking long-term value,” said Robert Ptaszynski, partner, head of digital and innovation at KPMG.

Organizations in the Kingdom are advancing digital transformation, with 75 percent reporting increased profitability from tech investments in the past 24 months, commonly between 11 percent and 15 percent. This success stems from evidence-based decisions, with 74 percent of leaders calculating tech initiative value before investing. Despite progress, 87 percent of executives are concerned about the pace of technological change, and 93 percent cite leadership risk aversion as a barrier to tech adoption.

In 2024, Saudi executives are prioritizing third-party guidance (99 percent) and in-house trials (83 percent) over competitor benchmarking. This reflects a growing focus on emerging technologies like AI, XaaS, and data analytics. XaaS technologies were identified as a top investment priority by 94 percent of respondents, citing agility and cost reduction, while 59 percent highlighted AI, automation, and data analytics. Interest in Web3 technologies is also growing, with 69 percent expressing enthusiasm for innovation.

Technical debt remains a critical barrier, with 66 percent of organizations reporting weekly disruptions due to foundational IT flaws. High-performing organizations proactively address technical debt, enabling smoother adoption of emerging technologies. The report warns against FOMO distorting judgment, with 77 percent of executives pursuing technologies like virtual and augmented reality to stay competitive. Encouragingly, more leaders are prioritizing proofs of concept and ROI projections over following the herd.

Saudi Arabia leads globally in AI maturity, with 71 percent of respondents seeing productivity improvements from AI investments. However, scaling AI remains a challenge, with only 39 percent successfully deploying AI use cases at scale. Transparency concerns persist, with 87 percent identifying the AI “black box” as a workforce anxiety factor. Organizations are adopting democratized approaches, with 53 percent encouraging experimentation within structured guardrails. Many plan to centralize AI efforts to ensure efficiency and manage risks.

Data maturity has improved significantly, with 77 percent embedding data practices into daily operations. Nearly all respondents (97 percent) view data and analytics as integral to their strategies. Future priorities include leveraging data for competitive advantage, educating employees, and strengthening data management frameworks.

KPMG emphasizes that aligning tech investments with strategic objectives, addressing technical debt, embedding cybersecurity, and fostering a data-driven culture are essential for sustainable progress. High-performing organizations globally and in Saudi Arabia are advancing digital transformation by strategically evaluating tech portfolios, optimizing decision-making, and managing risks.

As Saudi Arabia embraces the next phase of digital transformation, the KPMG report highlights the importance of balancing speed, security, and value. By aligning tech investments with strategic goals and fostering resilience, Saudi businesses can achieve sustainable growth and keep pace with global innovation.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday reiterated its categorical rejection of statements particularly that of Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land.

“Such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including the ethnic cleansing they are subjected to,” the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry likewise expressed its appreciation of the ‘condemnation, disapproval and total rejection announced by the brotherly countries’ regarding the Israeli leader’s comments.

Egypt condemned as “irresponsible” statements by Israeli officials suggesting establishing a Palestinian state on Saudi territory, with its foreign ministry emphasizing the suggestion a “direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty”, adding that the Kingdom’s security was a “red line for Egypt.”

The Jordanian ministry also described the Israeli remarks as “inflammatory and a clear violation of international law, relevant UN resolutions, and state sovereignty.”

Foreign ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah criticized what he described as Israel’s continued provocative policies and rhetoric, stressing that such statements reflect an exclusionary and hostile approach that undermines regional stability, Petra reported.

Jordan, he added, stands in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia against these statements, urging international actors to take a firm stance against irresponsible rhetoric that threatens peace efforts.

#Statement | The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appreciates the condemnation, disapproval and total rejection announced by the brotherly countries towards what Benjamin Netanyahu stated regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land and the Kingdom values the… pic.twitter.com/ebj2sVHx4w

— Foreign Ministry  (@KSAmofaEN) February 9, 2025

“The Kingdom also points out that this extremist, occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to the brotherly people of Palestine and their emotional, historical and legal connection to this land, and it does not think that the Palestinian people deserve to live in the first place, as it has completely destroyed the Gaza Strip, killed and injured more than 160.000, most of them children and women, without the slightest human feeling or moral responsibility,” the Saudi foreign ministry statement said.

“The Kingdom affirms that the Palestinian people have a right to their land, and they are not intruders or immigrants to it who can be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupation wishes.

“The Kingdom notes that the proponents of these extremist ideas are the ones who prevented Israel from accepting peace by refusing peaceful coexistence, rejecting the peace initiatives adopted by the Arab countries, and systematically practicing injustice towards the Palestinian people for more than 75 years, with disregard to the truth, justice, law and the values established in the United Nations Charter, including the human's right to live in dignity on his land,” the statement added.

The Saudi foreign ministry also reiterated that the right of the Palestinian people “will remain firmly established and no one will be able to take it away from them no matter how long it takes.”

It added lasting peace would only be achieved by “returning to the logic of reason and accepting the principle of peaceful coexistence through the two-state solution.”