Mannai Information Technology is bringing its technology and systems integration experience from Qatar into Saudi Arabia, where it is expanding across sports, smart infrastructure and enterprise technology.
Part of Qatar-listed Mannai Corporation, the company has more than 75 years of history and operates across technology integration, enterprise IT, infrastructure and managed services. Its Saudi business brings together capabilities spanning connected buildings and cities, networking, cybersecurity, cloud, enterprise applications and technology contracting.
Speaking to Tech Arabia at LEAP 2026, Lakshimi Narayanan, General Manager of Mannai Information Technology in Saudi Arabia, said the company works across the technology stack, from individual IT solutions to complete project delivery.
“We are heavily into technology and technology contracting business,” Narayanan said.
The company’s portfolio includes networking, security, audio-visual systems, lighting and building management systems for connected buildings and cities, alongside enterprise applications, cloud platforms and cybersecurity.
Sports-tech experience
Sports technology is a major focus for Mannai as it expands in Saudi Arabia. The company has worked in sports technology for more than three decades, including projects around the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Its involvement covered not only stadium technology but also infrastructure supporting the wider event ecosystem.
Mannai delivered networking infrastructure for all eight World Cup stadiums and provided Network Operations Centre and Security Operations Centre capabilities. It also worked on airport infrastructure during Qatar’s preparations for the tournament.
Another project involved developing an application with the FIFA organising committee covering functions such as indoor stadium navigation, transportation, visa-related services and hotel bookings.
Rather than deploying an off-the-shelf product, Mannai developed the application around the organising committee’s requirements and transferred the intellectual property to the customer.
“We did not bring any specific product, and we were not pushing the licence to the customer,” Narayanan said. “We were developing a product, which was owned as an IP by the customer, so we transferred the IP to them.”
Mannai is already working on a stadium project in Saudi Arabia as a prime technology contractor and is pursuing further opportunities in the Kingdom.
The AI conversation starts with data
While AI was a major focus at LEAP, Narayanan said customers should first identify the problem they want to solve rather than start with the technology.
Rather than starting with an AI product, Mannai works with customers to identify the business problem they are trying to solve, develop relevant use cases and creating a roadmap for implementation.
“We are trying to educate the customer, don’t select an AI and try to implement it, unless otherwise you know your challenges. AI is supposed to solve one of your headaches. It cannot be a headache of its own,” Narayanan said.
Mannai is also pursuing opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s energy sector.