NAVER Completes Digital Twin Platform in Saudi Cities

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Naver said it has completed the construction of a digital twin platform for three Saudi Arabian cities, covering an area of 6,800 square kilometers and mapping approximately 920,000 buildings.

The project encompasses Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah, according to a company statement. 

The covered area exceeds 11 times the size of Seoul, according to NAVER.

NAVER worked with Balady, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, and NHC Innovation, a unit of the National Housing Company. 

The company received the contract in October 2023 and began development in July 2024.

The platform integrates 3D imagery with real-time data streams. 

The system includes terrain analysis, sunlight exposure analysis, and building code compliance features, the company said.

The platform also features flood simulation capabilities, utilizing historical flood data and urban waterway information to provide accurate predictions. 

The system provides rain cloud tracking through radar visualization.

Yasser Alobaidan, CEO of Balady, said the platform represents "Saudi Arabia's most tangible step toward a vision for a data-driven, sustainable future cities ecosystem." Balady plans to expand the technology to additional cities nationwide, he said.

Han Sang-young, Executive Director of Global DX & Innovation at NAVER Cloud, said the project represents "Saudi Arabia's digital transformation."

NAVER Cloud and NHC Innovation formed a joint venture called "NAVER Innovation" in May. 

The venture will launch services, including a map-based application using the digital twin system.

Saudi Arabia aims to expand cities covered by NAVER's technology and explore additional use cases, according to the statement.