Thales to Provide AI-Enabled Security System for AlUla Heritage Sites

Pascale Sourisse, Senior Executive Vice-President, International Development at Thales, Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO of Thales, Amr AlMadani, ​ CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla, Jean-Yves Le Drian, CEO of the French Development Agency for AlUla, Ludovic Pouille, Ambassador of France in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Talal Al Onazi, VP Public Safety of the Royal Commission for AlUla, Bernard Roux, CEO Thales in Saudi Arabia and Sultan AlKhuraissi, COO of the Royal Commission for AlUla ©Thales ​

(IN BRIEF) Thales, a global technology leader, has signed a strategic agreement with The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) during the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. The partnership aims to enhance security at Al Ula’s heritage sites and historical landmarks. Thales will provide an integrated security system based on an AI-enabled Smart Digital Platform and mission-critical communications, ensuring the safety of major sites like the RCU Campus and the Old Town. The collaboration also supports RCU’s goal of making AlUla a global benchmark for sustainable development and a safe destination for tourism and living.

(PRESS RELEASE) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 25-Oct-2032 — /EuropaWire/ —  Thales (EPA: HO), a French multinational company active in the aerospace, defence, transportation and security markets, announced a strategic agreement with The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) on October 25, 2023, during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh. This partnership aims to enhance security measures for Al Ula’s heritage site and historical landmarks.

Under this agreement, Thales is set to provide the RCU with a cutting-edge integrated security system powered by an AI-enabled Smart Digital Platform and mission-critical communications. The primary goal is to secure several significant sites within the region.

Thales will also extend support to the RCU in its quest to establish AlUla as a global benchmark for sustainable development and a safe haven for tourists, residents, and workers alike.

The newly formed partnership heralds a state-of-the-art security solution tailored specifically for AlUla. It encompasses advanced technologies in secured communications, computer vision, early threat detection, access control, and video management. Thales’s Smart Digital Platform will seamlessly integrate all these elements, serving as the backbone for the Integrated Smart Operations Centre located in AlUla. The platform includes a robust video and audio analytics engine that enhances situational awareness across major sites, including the RCU Campus, the Old Town, and the Museum.

This comprehensive solution will empower operators with a sophisticated Command & Control capability, ensuring that AlUla remains a smart and secure tourist destination within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The contract not only highlights Thales’s expertise in digital platforms, big data, and artificial intelligence but also promises to deliver an unparalleled experience for visitors.

“We are honoured to be part of this exceptional project, to contribute to the security and safety of this unique historical and tourist destination, AlUla, and to the quality of life of its inhabitants with advanced digital and integrated technologies. Drawing on its international and local expertise, Thales is committed to driving forward RCU’s smart and sustainable city development goals in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.” said Bernard Roux, CEO, Thales in Saudi Arabia & Central Asia.

AlUla’s development aligns with a wide spectrum of initiatives spanning archaeology, education, and the arts, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 transformation program, which prioritizes the growth of tourism and culture.

The Royal Commission for AlUla and Thales have joined forces to transform AlUla into a unique model of economic, social, and environmental development, embodying the highest standards in security, sustainability, and overall well-being for the city and its visitors.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies within three domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Digital Identity & Security. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas such as quantum technologies, Edge computing, 6G and cybersecurity.

Thales has 77,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2022, the Group generated sales of €17.6 billion.

Media contact:

Marion Bonnet, Press and social media manager, Security and Cyber
+33 (0)6 60 38 48 92 marion.bonnet@thalesgroup.com
Lucie Baton, Media Relations
+971 50 639 4126 lucie.baton@external.thalesgroup.com

SOURCE: Thales