RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport is poised to witness improved efficiency thanks to its partnership with ADB Safegate, a Belgium-based aviation service provider. Riyadh Airports Co., the entity overseeing the airbase’s operations, has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the global aviation solution provider to foster cooperation. The collaboration aims to develop energy efficiency, implement predictive maintenance, and enhance streamlined passenger flow. The partnership also includes working on an innovative transformation process that leverages technical solutions to digitize airport automation, monitoring, and maintenance processes. The companies involved plan to explore the potential of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced video analytics. Furthermore, both entities will collaborate on virtual reality, augmented reality, as well as Internet of Things technologies. In addition, the implementation of 5G technology is also on the agenda. Osama Al-Fawaz, CEO of Information and Communications Technology at Riyadh Airports Co., said that this agreement aligns with the digital transformation goals of the company, relying on the latest specialized technologies. Laurent Dubois, CEO of Safegate, highlighted the transformative potential of this agreement, emphasizing that RAC operates one of the region’s most significant airports. He added that the deal reflects Riyadh Airports’ eagerness to adopt the latest international technologies in the field. According to data from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Riyadh airport outperformed other international aviation hubs in Saudi Arabia for overall performance in September. It achieved high marks across the 11 operational performance standards, which track passenger experience and airport efficiency. The airbase secured the top spot in the category of international terminals serving over 15 million passengers annually, with a compliance rate of 82 percent. The MoU aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 National Aviation Strategy, which seeks to diversify revenue sources by boosting the travel and tourism sector. According to the strategy’s goals, the Kingdom aims to enhance air connectivity to 250 destinations, accommodating 330 million passengers, and doubling air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons by 2030.