Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: As anticipation builds for its upcoming “Cisco Connect – CXO Edition” event in Riyadh, Cisco unveiled new insights from its global networking survey, with a spotlight on Saudi Arabia.
The findings reveal how AI adoption and evolving digital demands are pushing local enterprises to rethink their network strategies, driving a shift toward faster, more secure, and more intelligent infrastructure.
According to the report, all Saudi respondents agree that modernized networks are essential for enabling AI, IoT, and cloud deployments. As a result, 94% of IT leaders in the Kingdom plan to increase their networking budgets. Security remains a top concern, with 98% highlighting secure connectivity as critical to business growth and 97% believing that better networks will improve their cybersecurity posture.
Resilience is also a key focus. While 97% of respondents said their businesses depend on reliable networks, 73% reported major outages in the past two years, often due to congestion, cyberattacks, or misconfigurations. Over half believe modern networks will directly impact revenue by enabling AI-powered tools that personalize customer experiences and boost loyalty.
Despite high ambitions, many companies face infrastructure gaps. Two-thirds say their current data centers can’t handle today’s AI demands, and 90% are planning to expand capacity. Although nearly all IT leaders see AI-powered, autonomous networks as vital to future growth, only 40% have started deploying those capabilities.
Salman Faqeeh, Cisco’s Saudi Arabia Managing Director, noted: “The AI era relies on ultra-fast, low-latency, and highly secure networks, and KSA is leading the way by building the AI infrastructure of the future. At Cisco, we are proud to partner with Saudi Arabia to develop networks that will drive the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 goals."
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital transformation, IT leaders say unlocking the full value of their networks will require overcoming key hurdles: siloed systems (62%), incomplete implementations (42%), and a need for greater automation (39%). Still, the business case is clear—92% expect better networks to drive revenue, while 97% anticipate cost savings through improved efficiency, fewer outages, and lower energy use.