January 1st, 2026 - devicethread (now shashi.ai) is excited to announce its entry into Saudi Arabia with Al Aqiq - KAFD, a LIV by Yamama property, onboarding devicethread (now shashi.ai) SmartAccess and SmartEntertainment in Riyadh. This milestone reflects devicethread (now shashi.ai)'s continued global expansion and the growing demand for modern, reliable hospitality infrastructure in fast-scaling markets across the Middle East.

Bringing Smart Hospitality to Riyadh's Long-Stay Living

Al Aqiq - KAFD, part of LIV by Yamama's portfolio of thoughtfully designed serviced residences in Riyadh's most connected locations, needed an efficient way to manage guest access and in-room entertainment, without adding pressure to its front-desk team.

With SmartAccess and SmartEntertainment, Al Aqiq - KAFD now offers guests smooth, self-serve arrivals alongside personalized in-room entertainment, reducing manual workflows and reception dependency. The rollout added 77 new smart locks across the property, reinforcing LIV by Yamama's "seamlessly digital" approach to modern, long-stay living.

SmartAccess was also integrated directly with Al Aqiq - KAFD's existing Cloudbeds PMS, allowing guest access to sync seamlessly with reservations and check-in data.

The deployment was managed entirely by the property's own team, reflecting how straightforward the SmartAccess onboarding process can be even for a small, self-managed boutique hotel.

"We built LIV around the idea that technology should make life easier, not more complicated," said the Owner of Al Aqiq - KAFD. "devicethread (now shashi.ai) gave us a way to simplify access and entertainment for our residents, so every stay feels effortless from day one."

The result is a more efficient, guest-friendly stay experience that supports Al Aqiq - KAFD's operations while reinforcing the flexible, digital-first living experience LIV by Yamama is known for.

A New Chapter for devicethread (now shashi.ai) in the Middle East

This launch marks an important step in devicethread (now shashi.ai)'s expansion into the Middle East, reinforcing its mission to build the agentic infrastructure layer for modern hospitality — where access, entertainment, and guest experience work seamlessly together.

About Al Aqiq - KAFD

Al Aqiq - KAFD is a LIV by Yamama serviced residence located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, offering flexible, fully serviced long-stay living with digital check-in, seamless service requests, and modern, comfortable spaces designed for the pace of contemporary life.

About devicethread (now shashi.ai) ^®

devicethread (now shashi.ai) is a Smart Hospitality platform transforming how properties manage access, entertainment, and energy experiences. Built for interoperability and powered by AI, devicethread (now shashi.ai) connects smart IoT devices, guest experiences, and operational intelligence under one unified cloud — enabling properties to deliver seamless, personalized stays at scale.

Learn more at www.devicethread.com