KAFD becomes first SmartScore neighborhood in MENA

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NOHA.GAD
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Jul 23, 2024
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Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) obtained the SmartScore Neighborhood Certification by WiredScore for its first-class digital infrastructure that offers robust connectivity, sustainability, and a seamless live and work experience.

With this recognition, KAFD became the first neighborhood in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to achieve WiredScore’s SmartScore Neighborhood certification, according to a recent press release by KAFD.

KAFD received the certification after a rigorous evaluation and certification process initiated in September 2023 when WiredScore announced that the financial district had secured SmartScore Neighborhood Pre-certification status.

Gautam Sashittal, CEO of King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC), stated that receiving the SmartScore Certification is a testament to KAFD’s strategic efforts and investment in secure, reliable, and advanced infrastructure.

“We are privileged to become the first neighborhood to achieve WiredScore’s SmartScore Neighborhood Certification, which reaffirms KAFD's leadership for modern-day and future smart developments in the MENA region and etches its presence on the global smart city landscape,” Sashittal elaborated.

Meanwhile, John Hilliard, Head of Middle East at WiredScore, said: “By becoming the first SmartScore Neighborhood in MENA, KAFD continues to demonstrate why it is the cornerstone of Vision 2030.”

Spanning 1.6 square kilometers, KAFD is the Kingdom’s first vertical city that includes 95 buildings notable for their avant-garde urban design and smart infrastructure, across five asset classes, featuring Grade A office spaces, upscale residences, diverse commercial and retail areas, luxury hospitality, and vibrant entertainment venues, all interconnected and walkable within 10-minutes.

WiredScore is the global authority on smart building technologies, providing certification and education to enhance the digital connectivity of buildings and neighborhoods.


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