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Apr 22, 2026
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Startups
Middle East & Africa
NewDecoded
3 min read

Image by Abdulrhman Alkhnaifer
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Smartlox, an Australian pioneer in digital safety technology, has announced its strategic entry into the Saudi Arabian market. Supported by expansion platform AstroLabs, the company aims to modernize the Kingdom's industrial and infrastructure sectors with advanced access control systems. This expansion targets the growing demand for high-level security within massive developments like NEOM and Qiddiya. You can learn more about their mission at https://smartlox.io/. The company specializes in replacing antiquated manual workflows with its Digital Lockout-Tagout (LOTO) and Smart Access Control platforms. By utilizing Bluetooth enabled hardware and the Nyckel mobile application, Smartlox eliminates the need for physical master keys and paper-heavy protocols. While the service focuses on IoT connectivity and real-time data visibility, it operates without relying on AI technology. Instead, it prioritizes robust hardware-enabled security and functionality in disconnected environments.
"While our journey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is just beginning, the energy and pace of innovation we have encountered are unmistakable," stated Brent Wijnberg, Founder and CEO of Smartlox. He noted that the company was built to solve complex safety challenges in heavy industry, aligning naturally with the scale of projects defining the future of the Kingdom. This digital-first approach directly supports the safety and efficiency goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Fouad Fattal, Vice President Commercial at AstroLabs, highlighted that the Saudi market is entering a new phase of maturity. He explained that as mega-developments grow in complexity, the demand for integrated security solutions is accelerating. Smartlox is positioned to deliver the scalability and data visibility that these projects increasingly require to meet global benchmarks like ISO 45001. More details on regional expansion can be found at https://astrolabs.com/. The expansion also addresses the urgent need for systems that function in remote, offline environments typical of mining and energy sites. By providing automated, tamper-proof audit trails, the platform ensures site-wide compliance and enhances worker protection. This transition helps Saudi enterprises meet rigorous international Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards while reducing operational downtime.
The entry of Smartlox into the Saudi market signifies a critical pivot from traditional physical security to integrated digital safety ecosystems within the industrial sector. As the Saudi workplace safety market prepares to reach a projected $1.4 billion by 2030, industries are moving away from isolated hardware toward cloud-native networks. This shift focuses on creating absolute accountability through real-time data visibility rather than autonomous decision-making. By digitizing the Lockout-Tagout process, companies can significantly reduce the human error and operational friction that typically plague massive industrial shutdowns.
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