Bader Almadi, vice president and managing director of Cisco Saudi Arabia, asserts that the Kingdom's next growth phase hinges on secure digital foundations. In a sponsored article, he outlines how Vision 2030 has shifted from rapid digitization to scaling AI, protecting critical services, and ensuring always-on operations across the economy.
AI Raises the Standard for Digital Infrastructure
AI is projected to contribute $135.2 billion to Saudi Arabia's economy by 2030, representing 12.4 percent of GDP. However, Cisco's AI Readiness Index reveals gaps: only 29 percent of organizations have robust GPU resources, while 31 percent need significant infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, 45 percent expect AI workloads to grow by over 30 percent within a year. Almadi stresses that scaling AI requires powerful, secure, and observable infrastructure.
Business Continuity as a Strategic Imperative
In an always-on economy, disruptions—whether cyber incidents, cloud outages, or application failures—directly impact customer experience and national trust. Almadi argues that continuity must be built into architecture from the start. Cisco's integrated portfolio of networking, security, and observability provides 'continuity by design' to ensure resilience under challenge.
Cybersecurity Is the Foundation of Trust
Almadi warns that cybersecurity is now the primary enabler of business continuity. Cisco's 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index found only 25 percent of Saudi organizations have the maturity to withstand current threats. Alarmingly, 91 percent have experienced AI-related security incidents. He states, 'Innovation is increasing, and security readiness must keep pace. In an AI-driven economy, cybersecurity is the bedrock of trust.'
Connectivity Alone Is Not Enough
As environments become more distributed across cloud, on-premises, and remote users, organizations need deep visibility into real-time system performance. True continuity depends on three integrated capabilities: trusted connectivity, real-time observability, and coordinated security. When unified, organizations can identify issues before outages and minimize service restoration complexity.
Talent: A Key Pillar of Success
Technology alone will not define success; talent will. With 93 percent of Saudi organizations facing a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, national capacity building is urgent. Since 1999, Cisco Networking Academy has trained half a million learners in the Kingdom. Almadi emphasizes investing in programs to ensure the workforce can design, secure, and scale complex environments.
Building Foundations for the Next Chapter
Drawing on nearly three decades of partnership in Saudi Arabia, Almadi concludes that resilience is built over time through trusted partnerships and operational discipline. Vision 2030's momentum requires secure, AI-ready, and highly visible digital foundations. The next phase of growth will be shaped not only by bold innovation but by confident scaling, rooted in a commitment to 'continuity by design.'
