How AI Could Make Saudi Arabia's Construction Sites Safer and More Efficient
A Hong Kong-based AI firm aims to bring real-time monitoring and intelligent video analytics to the Kingdom's ambitious infrastructure projects.
RIYADH: Across the global construction sector, a quiet revolution is unfolding.
Artificial intelligence, once confined to laboratories and boardrooms, is increasingly present in the urban fabric, embedded into scaffolding, concrete and command centers.
One company at the heart of this shift is viAct, an AI firm co-founded by Gary Ng and Hugo Cheuk.
Their goal is to make construction safer, smarter, and more productive using a scenario-based AI engine built for complex, high-risk environments.
"Despite being one of the most labor-intensive and hazardous industries, construction remains vastly under-digitized," said Ng.
"We saw this as an opportunity to bring AI-driven automation and insights to frontline operations.
Unlike conventional surveillance tools that merely record footage, viAct’s platform acts like a digital foreman.
It interprets real-time visual data to detect unsafe practices, productivity gaps, and anomalies without human supervision.
The firm’s technology has been deployed across East Asia and parts of Europe.
Now, viAct is eyeing Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region, where giga-projects are transforming skylines at record speed.
Ng confirmed that viAct is in active discussions to enter the Saudi market.
"Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is deeply aligned with our mission," he said.
"There’s a growing demand for AI in infrastructure — not just for safety, but also for efficiency, environmental compliance, and transparency.
From NEOM and The Line to Qiddiya and Diriyah Gate, Saudi Arabia leads one of the most ambitious construction booms in the world.
These projects involve thousands of workers, advanced logistics, and constant oversight.
However, traditional safety audits and manual inspections are no longer sufficient.
"With projects of this scale, real-time monitoring is not a luxury — it’s a necessity," said Ng.
While viAct hasn’t yet launched in the Kingdom, its platform is prepared for Arabic localization and regional compliance standards, including Saudi labor laws and Gulf Cooperation Council safety codes.
What sets viAct apart is how seamlessly it integrates with existing infrastructure.
The system works with standard CCTV cameras and can be deployed on urban and remote sites.
It uses edge AI to process data locally, delivering insights even in areas with weak internet connectivity.
The software is customizable based on the client’s needs.
For instance, a hospital contractor might prioritize fall detection and material delays, while an airport runway contractor may need to monitor large machinery and perimeter access.
viAct emphasizes that its goal is not to replace workers but to enhance human judgment and ensure safety.
The firm reports that many clients see smoother adoption once workers understand the system’s purpose, which is not to spy on them but to observe unsafe situations.
The company also explores integrating predictive analytics, allowing clients to foresee and prevent incidents before they occur.
This could shift AI’s role from reactive to proactive, forecasting safety breaches, delivery delays, or environmental compliance issues in advance.
Ng believes intelligent foresight will soon become standard across the construction industry.
"It’s not about replacing humans," he said.
"It’s about building a smarter site where decisions are faster, risks are fewer, and lives are safer."
Artificial intelligence, once confined to laboratories and boardrooms, is increasingly present in the urban fabric, embedded into scaffolding, concrete and command centers.
One company at the heart of this shift is viAct, an AI firm co-founded by Gary Ng and Hugo Cheuk.
Their goal is to make construction safer, smarter, and more productive using a scenario-based AI engine built for complex, high-risk environments.
"Despite being one of the most labor-intensive and hazardous industries, construction remains vastly under-digitized," said Ng.
"We saw this as an opportunity to bring AI-driven automation and insights to frontline operations.
Unlike conventional surveillance tools that merely record footage, viAct’s platform acts like a digital foreman.
It interprets real-time visual data to detect unsafe practices, productivity gaps, and anomalies without human supervision.
The firm’s technology has been deployed across East Asia and parts of Europe.
Now, viAct is eyeing Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region, where giga-projects are transforming skylines at record speed.
Ng confirmed that viAct is in active discussions to enter the Saudi market.
"Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is deeply aligned with our mission," he said.
"There’s a growing demand for AI in infrastructure — not just for safety, but also for efficiency, environmental compliance, and transparency.
From NEOM and The Line to Qiddiya and Diriyah Gate, Saudi Arabia leads one of the most ambitious construction booms in the world.
These projects involve thousands of workers, advanced logistics, and constant oversight.
However, traditional safety audits and manual inspections are no longer sufficient.
"With projects of this scale, real-time monitoring is not a luxury — it’s a necessity," said Ng.
While viAct hasn’t yet launched in the Kingdom, its platform is prepared for Arabic localization and regional compliance standards, including Saudi labor laws and Gulf Cooperation Council safety codes.
What sets viAct apart is how seamlessly it integrates with existing infrastructure.
The system works with standard CCTV cameras and can be deployed on urban and remote sites.
It uses edge AI to process data locally, delivering insights even in areas with weak internet connectivity.
The software is customizable based on the client’s needs.
For instance, a hospital contractor might prioritize fall detection and material delays, while an airport runway contractor may need to monitor large machinery and perimeter access.
viAct emphasizes that its goal is not to replace workers but to enhance human judgment and ensure safety.
The firm reports that many clients see smoother adoption once workers understand the system’s purpose, which is not to spy on them but to observe unsafe situations.
The company also explores integrating predictive analytics, allowing clients to foresee and prevent incidents before they occur.
This could shift AI’s role from reactive to proactive, forecasting safety breaches, delivery delays, or environmental compliance issues in advance.
Ng believes intelligent foresight will soon become standard across the construction industry.
"It’s not about replacing humans," he said.
"It’s about building a smarter site where decisions are faster, risks are fewer, and lives are safer."
