Total expenditure on communications and IT in Saudi Arabia exceeds $7bn

Statistics also reveal that the total investments in the Middle East and Africa on Information Technology for the year 2008 was about $40.5bn i.e. a growth rate of about 13% compared with the year 2007. The amount expected to be spent by the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries is estimated to reach the amount of $9.1bn, or 22.6% of the total expenditure of the Middle East and Africa. It is also expected that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will spend about 43.1% of total investments of the Gulf Countries i.e. almost $4bn.

In light of the affluence and growth and development enjoyed by the Information Technology and Communications industry in Saudi Arabia, Al'ilm Company for information security, will participate in the 23rd Saudi International exhibition for communications and information technology (COMTEL 2008) which will be held from 15th to 19th December, 2008 at Jeddah International Exhibitions Center. The exhibition is expected to draw at least eighty thousand visitors.

The Director of Marketing in AlElm Company, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Omeir stressed that his Company aims to be present in this big exhibition which is one of the largest concentrations of communications and information technology companies in the Kingdom. This enables the company to meet with its customers and exhibit new technologies and services it provides, stressing that his company will offer the most up-to-date technology because it is seeking to provide safe electronic services to help citizens and a residents carry out their transactions easily.

Al-Omair explained that among the services the company will demonstrate in the exhibition "COMTEL 2008", is the "alert" service; this service allows users to know their traffic violations by sending an SMS. They can also ensure about other information such as car ownership, or the number of its former owners and whether all its papers are regular. Also this service "alert" enables users to know the amount they owe the fund the passport department or the traffic department, as well as the inquiry about the validity of health insurance for residents, this service is expected to gain the interest of the visitors Portal.

Al Omair also disclosed that visitors of the pavilion will be able to test all the aforementioned services free of charge at the pavilion and see its usefulness. He also said his company will introduce another service called the "resident", which allows a Company direct access to the data-base of the Directorate General of Passports for updated information on all foreign workers of the Company and all the transactions concerning them which are carried out in the General Directorate of Passports.

Al Omair also revealed that for the first time the Portal (mechanical gateway) will be shown. It is an electronic outlet through which the Saudi citizen can leave and enter the Kingdom without the need to stop in the conventional offices for stamping passports and identity verification by the passport officer because the process of verification will be done through fingerprints. In this case the beneficiary records the information once only in the registration center. There will be an overview of the service and queries of visitors will be answered.

Al-Omair further stated that the company also seeks to provide all services that would be essential in the development of safe e-business services within the awareness of the company and its commitment to provide services with positive benefits to the citizen and the resident, where the transactions are done according to the highest standards of quality and privacy.

Al-Omair revealed that exhibition "COMTEL 2008," will include leading international and local companies specialized in electronic commerce, information technology and communications, it is believed to be the perfect place for senior decision makers, businessmen and investors to meet, interact and conduct successful businesses and deals through the provision of information market and communication technology needs. The Exhibition will play an important role in highlighting the major developments in the economic and commercial transactions among countries by promoting the use of digital information technology.

It should be noted that AlElam Company is a Saudi stock company owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, it took upon itself the responsibility of building a safe and the largest National electronics services system. The Company is aware of the dramatic development in Technology achieved by the Information Technology; hat is why it has adapted all its potentialities to serve the public -citizens and residents- with what suits the policy of the Kingdom in the communications and information technology Services, where the expenditure in this sector exceeds $7bn.