Along with a host of other technologies thought only a decade ago to be inviable, the internet of things (IoT) has achieved hard-won status as “no longer a gimmick”. Quirky smart fridges and trivial gadgets have given way to full-blooded solutions that are optimising operations, cutting costs and saving lives across industries.
The Middle East is already immersed in IoT technologies. In the UAE, the launch of Dubai’s IoT strategy in Q4 of 2017 was intended to build a platform for smart city development. And in the northwestern Tabuk Province near the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia's government plans to build the tourist city of Neom, which will rely heavily on IoT infrastructure.
Applications across the region include ticketless parking systems, smart grids and e-gates at airport passport-control zones. And most telecom providers now offer platforms for IoT development.