[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Kakao Mobility announced on June 1 that it will export its parking platform solution for the first time since its establishment, participating in the development of an integrated mobility solution for Saudi Arabia’s $63 billion Diriyah project.
The Diriyah project is one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship “Giga Projects,” spearheaded by the government to build large-scale urban infrastructure. It aims to transform a 14 km² area west of Riyadh—home to the birthplace of the Saudi royal family—into a luxury urban development, including resorts, villas, hospitals, and shopping centers. The site is about 20 times the size of Seoul’s Yeouido district.
Under the newly signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), Kakao Mobility will initially operate the parking infrastructure within Diriyah and develop a comprehensive platform to manage parking reservations, payments, and operations. The company will focus on a proof-of-concept (PoC) deployment in selected areas already operating in soft-launch mode, and plans to expand the scope of the solution to the entire project area based on the results and further discussions with Diriyah Company.
Diriyah Company has plans to accommodate over 60,000 vehicles with its parking facilities. Through the PoC, both parties aim to verify the feasibility of applying smart parking infrastructure and digital platform technology across large-scale parking lots. This includes system integration, user experience optimization, and streamlined operational workflows.
Kakao Mobility brings a suite of advanced technologies suited for underground and indoor environments. In 2020, the company became the first in the world to commercialize a mobile network signal-based indoor positioning system, called “FIN (Fusion Indoor Navigation).” By integrating FIN into its navigation app Kakao Navi, the company can provide precise guidance even in GPS-denied areas such as underground parking lots and tunnels.
Beyond parking solutions, the MoU also outlines possibilities for future collaboration in broader smart mobility services within the Diriyah development. Starting with parking, Kakao Mobility and Diriyah Company may explore joint development of emerging mobility services tailored to the city’s future needs.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
