stc Group Turns Red Sea Destinations into Live 3D Digital Twins at LEAP 2026
stc Group and Red Sea Global are showcasing a new intelligent operations platform at LEAP 2026 that creates a live 3D digital representation of Red Sea destinations, giving operators a real-time view of what is happening across land, sea and marine environments.
Developed by iot squared, an stc Group subsidiary, the platform is currently being demonstrated across Shura Island and Turtle Bay, covering around 10 square kilometres of high-resolution real-time monitoring. The technology combines 3D modelling and high-resolution satellite imagery with live data from sensors and operational systems covering buildings, vehicles and environmental conditions.
The result is a digital twin of the destination that can continuously reflect changing conditions on the ground. Unlike a conventional 3D map, the platform is designed to function as an operational tool. Data from multiple systems is brought together through Nucleus, iot squared’s smart operations platform. Different teams can then access views tailored to their specific responsibilities while working from the same underlying operational data.
The system provides dedicated views for areas including:
- Guest experience, covering the overall visitor journey
- Mobility, including traffic and transportation
- Environment, monitoring facilities and surrounding conditions
- Marine operations, tracking conditions at sea
- Visitor experience, supporting guest-facing services
The platform can also be used to simulate potential scenarios before decisions are made. For example, when thousands of visitors leave an event simultaneously, mobility teams can assess whether additional shuttles, changes to bus frequencies or the redeployment of ground teams would have the greatest impact.
Operators can similarly model emergency scenarios, such as taking an area offline following a fire, and evaluate potential responses before an incident occurs. The system extends beyond buildings and roads, providing visibility across both above-water and underwater environments.
Real-time sensor data is used to monitor parameters including wind speed, sea state, air temperature and air quality, with automated alerts triggered when monitored conditions move outside expected ranges. The platform also incorporates marine and environmental information, including data relating to coral reefs.
This allows operators to work from a live operational picture rather than relying solely on historical information or periodic surveys. Red Sea Global plans to integrate the technology into its website, allowing visitors to explore destinations through a 3D digital experience.
Visitors will be able to use the platform to explore locations, plan activities and receive recommendations based on live conditions, with the option to make bookings directly. This creates a link between the operational technology used by destination managers and the digital experience provided to visitors.
The Red Sea deployment forms part of a broader stc Group showcase at LEAP 2026 covering tourism, sports, logistics, construction and real estate. stc Group is participating in LEAP as the event’s Strategic Partner for the fifth consecutive year, highlighting how connected digital infrastructure and intelligent platforms can support the development and operation of Saudi Arabia’s next generation of destinations and facilities.
For Red Sea Global, the digital twin approach provides a unified layer through which multiple teams can monitor operations, understand changing conditions and test potential decisions. Rather than simply visualising a destination, the platform is designed to turn real-time data into operational intelligence and actionable decisions.
