Nokia has opened its first research and development centre in Saudi Arabia, expanding its investment in artificial intelligence-powered network automation as the kingdom looks to strengthen its position in advanced telecommunications and software development.
Located in Riyadh, the new centre will focus on developing AI-powered network automation and orchestration software for communications service providers and enterprises in Saudi Arabia and other global markets.
The facility will work on technologies designed to make telecommunications networks more autonomous, allowing them to self-configure, identify and respond to problems, optimise performance and reduce energy consumption.
Among the areas being developed at the centre are Service Management and Orchestration, Self-Organizing Networks, Nokia's Autopilot technology and rApps, which are software applications used to automate and optimise network operations.
Nokia said teams at the Riyadh facility will also explore AI-native technologies for future 6G networks. The company plans to develop software in Saudi Arabia that can eventually be deployed for customers in international markets.
The centre follows an agreement announced earlier this year between Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Nokia President and CEO Justin Hotard. The initiative forms part of Saudi Arabia's wider Vision 2030 programme, which includes efforts to expand the country's technology sector and develop local capabilities in areas such as AI, software and advanced digital infrastructure.
Alongside product development, Nokia plans to use the centre to create engineering and research roles in the country. It will also offer training programmes, boot camps and certifications focused on artificial intelligence and network automation for Saudi talent.
Abdulrahman AlMufadda, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Telecom and Digital Infrastructure, said the centre is expected to support the localisation of advanced research capabilities while developing national expertise in AI and software.
Mikko Lavanti, President of Middle East and Africa at Nokia, said the facility would combine the company's global network expertise with local talent to develop automation technologies aimed at making networks more autonomous, efficient and responsive.
The investment comes as telecom equipment providers increasingly integrate AI into network management. Operators are exploring automation to manage increasingly complex infrastructure while improving network performance, energy efficiency and operational costs.
For Nokia, the Riyadh centre also provides a base for developing network software closer to customers in the Middle East while contributing to its wider work on autonomous networks and AI-native connectivity.
The company has not disclosed the financial investment in the facility, the number of employees it plans to hire or a timeline for expanding the centre's workforce.
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