Penguin Delivers Indoor Positioning and Wayfinding at Ferrari World

In June 2017, Penguin Location Services achieved a major milestone by being awarded the contract to deploy its indoor positioning and wayfinding system at the world’s largest indoor theme park — Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

After extensive demonstrations, large-scale proof-of-concept deployments, and rigorous qualification stages, Ferrari World selected Penguin’s indoor navigation solution for its unmatched accuracy, reliability, and ability to perform in one of the most technically challenging environments imaginable.

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Solving Indoor Navigation Challenges at Scale

Theme parks present one of the most complex environments for indoor positioning due to the constant movement of people, rides, and metallic infrastructure that can interfere with traditional RF (radio frequency) signals.

Dr. Mohammed Smadi, Penguin’s CEO, explained:

“The dynamic environment inside Ferrari World, caused by the many moving metallic rides, creates a challenging problem from an RF modeling perspective that is very unique and different from other more typical environments.”

Despite these challenges, Penguin’s multi-technology opportunistic approach enabled accurate and reliable positioning across the entire park. Visitors using smart handheld devices can enjoy seamless wayfinding and navigation, ensuring an enhanced guest experience while improving park operations.

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Technology Behind the Solution

Penguin’s approach combines advanced indoor positioning algorithms, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology, and RF modeling techniques to deliver precision even in complex, high-interference environments.

Key capabilities delivered at Ferrari World include:

• Indoor wayfinding for visitors: Step-by-step navigation across the expansive theme park.

• Real-time indoor positioning: Sub-room level accuracy even in areas with heavy metallic structures.

• Asset tracking: Locating critical operational assets within the park to improve efficiency.

• Scalable infrastructure: A solution designed to expand to new attractions and future theme parks across the region.

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Positioned for Growth in the Theme Park Industry

The success at Ferrari World demonstrates Penguin’s ability to deliver indoor navigation and positioning solutions at an unprecedented scale. With new theme parks being announced in the region, Penguin is strategically positioned to support the growth of the entertainment industry with tested, proven, and scalable indoor positioning technology.

By addressing the toughest environmental challenges and delivering reliable asset tracking, indoor navigation, and visitor wayfinding, Penguin continues to establish itself as a trusted partner for mega-projects across the globe.

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SEO-Optimized Meta Details

Meta Title: Indoor Positioning & Wayfinding at Ferrari World | Penguin Success Story
Meta Description: Discover how Penguin Location Services delivered accurate indoor positioning, navigation, and asset tracking at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi — the world’s largest indoor theme park.

H1: Penguin Indoor Navigation Success Story: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
H2s:

• Solving Indoor Navigation Challenges at Scale

• Technology Behind the Indoor Positioning System

• Indoor Wayfinding and Asset Tracking Features

• Expanding Indoor Navigation Solutions to Future Theme Parks

Read more: Indoor Navigation – What Makes a Good App?

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Penguin Location Services Establishes Strategic Regional Headquarters in Dubai, UAE

January 2017

In response to the extraordinary high-demand and growing interest coming from the GCC region where several innovative smart cities initiatives and cutting-edge smart enterprises projects are rapidly gaining momentum, Penguin Location Services is pleased to announce today the establishment of a new comprehensive regional sales office and technical support center in Dubai – UAE. This strategic expansion represents a significant milestone in our commitment to serving the dynamic Middle East market with advanced indoor positioning solutions and real-time location systems (RTLS).

Comprehensive Regional Support Services

The newly established Dubai office will be dedicated to looking after sales operations, customer account relations, comprehensive pre-sale technical consultations, and extensive after-sale support services to all of Penguin’s valued customers throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with special strategic focus on the GCC territory including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

Our experienced regional team will provide localized expertise in indoor navigation technology, BLE-based positioning systems, smart building solutions, and IoT infrastructure deployment to meet the unique requirements of Middle Eastern enterprises, government facilities, healthcare institutions, retail complexes, airports, and industrial facilities.

Strategic Location Advantages

This regional headquarters office is strategically positioned and located within a short convenient driving distance from some of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks and world-renowned destinations, including the largest shopping mall in the world (Dubai Mall), the largest indoor theme park in the world (IMG Worlds of Adventure), the busiest international airport in the world (Dubai International Airport), and the tallest architectural tower in the world (Burj Khalifa).

Real-World Testing Opportunities

The prime office location will enable Penguin’s technical team to rigorously test and optimize its innovative indoor positioning solutions in some of the most challenging and complex indoor venues in the world. These sophisticated environments provide perfect testing grounds for our advanced BLE 5.1 technology, RTLS systems, and location intelligence platforms while simultaneously providing essential technical support, system integration services, and ongoing maintenance to both existing loyal clients and potential new customers across the region.

Our proximity to these world-class facilities allows for real-time demonstration of our indoor navigation capabilities, asset tracking solutions, people flow analytics, and safety management systems in environments that demand the highest levels of accuracy and reliability.

Invitation to Connect

If you are currently in Dubai, anywhere in the UAE, or planning to visit the region and are interested in learning more about our revolutionary indoor positioning technology, advanced RTLS solutions, smart building integration, or IoT-based location services, we cordially invite you to pay us a visit at our new regional office!

Our knowledgeable team of indoor positioning experts, technical consultants, and regional specialists are ready to discuss your specific location intelligence requirements, demonstrate our cutting-edge solutions, and explore potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities in the rapidly expanding smart cities ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa region.

Contact our Dubai office today to schedule a personalized consultation and discover how Penguin’s innovative indoor positioning solutions can transform your business operations and enhance your competitive advantage in the digital economy.

Penguin Location Services Expands Global Innovation with New R&D Center in Amman

In April 2016, Penguin Location Services took a major step in strengthening its global innovation capabilities by establishing a new Research & Development (R&D) center in Amman, Jordan. This strategic move reflects Penguin’s ongoing commitment to developing world-class solutions in indoor navigation, indoor positioning, asset tracking, and IoT-enabled location intelligence.

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A Hub for Talent and Innovation

Amman was selected as the location for the new R&D center due to its access to highly skilled researchers, engineers, and academic collaborators. The city is home to a rich talent pool and leading universities, providing Penguin with direct collaboration opportunities with experts in data mining, machine learning, and IoT research.

By creating a base in Amman, Penguin can optimize R&D costs while accessing diverse technical expertise that will drive advancements in location services and AI-powered positioning systems.

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Leadership with Proven Expertise

The Amman R&D center is led by Dr. Mohammed Smadi, a former Blackberry lead scientist with more than 25 patents and an extensive track record in wireless systems modeling and mobile device integration.

Under Dr. Smadi’s leadership, the team is focused on advancing Penguin’s mission to make enterprises smarter, safer, and more efficient through innovative location-based solutions. His experience in scaling complex wireless technologies is central to Penguin’s growth in indoor positioning and wayfinding systems.

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Advancing Indoor Navigation and Asset Tracking

The new R&D center plays a pivotal role in enhancing Penguin’s solutions for:

• Indoor navigation & wayfinding – delivering seamless visitor experiences in hospitals, airports, retail, and smart campuses.

• Indoor positioning – achieving sub-room level accuracy using BLE 5.1 and AI-powered algorithms.

• Asset tracking – enabling enterprises to locate and manage critical resources in real time.

• IoT and machine learning integration – building smarter, adaptive systems that learn from movement patterns to optimize workflows and safety.

Through close collaboration with academic research centers, the Amman team continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in location intelligence and RTLS (Real-Time Location Systems).

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Building the Future of Location Services

The establishment of the Amman R&D center demonstrates Penguin Location Services’ long-term commitment to innovation, research, and global expansion. By combining world-class talent with cutting-edge technology, Penguin is positioned to lead the way in indoor navigation, positioning accuracy, and enterprise asset tracking solutions.

With its expanded research capacity, Penguin continues to deliver reliable, scalable, and future-ready location intelligence platforms to industries worldwide.

Penguin Location Services Launches Unified Indoor IoT Platform for Enterprise Digital Transformation

In June 2015, Penguin Location Services announced a significant milestone in its R&D and product development efforts: the successful release of a unified Indoor Location-Based IoT platform designed to transform enterprise operations.

This breakthrough marks a major step toward enabling enterprise digital transformation, providing organizations with advanced tools for tracking assets and people, digitizing processes, and unlocking the power of indoor positioning technology.

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A Platform Designed for Mega Enterprises

The new indoor IoT platform was engineered to meet the needs of large-scale enterprises operating across complex environments such as hospitals, universities, industrial sites, and corporate campuses.

By combining indoor positioning, wayfinding, and real-time asset tracking into a single, cloud-managed platform, Penguin empowers organizations to streamline operations, improve safety, and enhance efficiency.

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Subscription Model: Zero-CapEx, Zero IT Overhead

Unlike traditional IT deployments, Penguin offers its IoT platform on an annual subscription basis. This model provides:

• Fully-managed hardware and cloud-based software – ensuring performance and availability without burdening internal IT teams.

• Zero capital expenditure (CapEx) – enterprises avoid large upfront costs and instead benefit from predictable annual pricing.

• No IT overhead – Penguin’s experts manage operations, monitoring, and updates, freeing internal teams to focus on strategic priorities.

This “as-a-service” model makes advanced indoor navigation and asset tracking accessible even for organizations with limited IT resources.

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Customizable Modules for Every Enterprise

The unified IoT platform offers a modular design, enabling clients to tailor deployments based on their specific business requirements. Available modules include:

1. Attendance Tracking – Automating staff attendance and compliance reporting.

2. Individuals’ Tracking – Real-time positioning of people within enterprise venues for safety and efficiency.

3. Asset Tracking – Locating equipment, tools, and resources instantly to reduce downtime.

4. Business Rules – Configurable workflows and alerts to support enterprise policies.

5. Analytics & Wayfinding – Insights into movement patterns and user-friendly navigation for employees, patients, or visitors.

Smart Cities and Indoor Positioning: Penguin Location Services at March 2014 Future Cities Summit

March 2014 Future Cities Summit is the Middle East’s premier smart cities event during which municipalities and mega-developers in UAE and other GCC countries have voiced the drive for smart cities and smart buildings as a key differentiating feature of the future.

Penguin Location Services’ Smart Building Vision

Penguin Location Services promoted its compelling proposition at the summit: “a building cannot be smart without having the ability to identify the locations of its visitors and tenants”. This message resonated really well with many of the attendees who agreed wholeheartedly that indoor positioning and the use cases built on top of it will be a primary expectation of the smart buildings.

The Role of Indoor Positioning in Smart Cities

Whether it is to identify assets, improve security, or optimize operations, indoor positioning technology is key to creating truly intelligent buildings. The Future Cities Summit highlighted the critical importance of location services in next-generation urban development.

Smart Building Applications for Indoor Positioning

Asset Identification and Tracking

• Real-time location tracking for building equipment and resources
• Automated asset management systems for improved operational efficiency
• Smart building technology integration for comprehensive facility management

Enhanced Security Systems

• Visitor tracking and access control through location-aware security
• Real-time monitoring of personnel and guests within smart buildings
• Integration with existing security infrastructure for comprehensive protection

Operational Optimization

• Location-based services for improved building efficiency
• Energy management systems guided by occupancy and location data
• Smart building operations enhanced through real-time positioning intelligence

Middle East Smart Cities Development

The UAE and GCC countries have emerged as leaders in smart city initiatives, with municipalities and mega-developers recognizing that indoor positioning systems are fundamental to creating truly intelligent urban environments. Key developments include:

Municipal Smart City Initiatives

• Government-backed smart city projects across the GCC region
• Integration of location services into urban planning and development
• Public-private partnerships driving smart building technology adoption

Mega-Developer Innovation

• Large-scale developments incorporating indoor positioning technology
• Smart building features as competitive differentiators in the real estate market
• Integration of location services into master-planned communities

Future of Smart Buildings and Location Technology

The insights shared at the Future Cities Summit demonstrate that indoor positioning is not just a convenience feature but a fundamental requirement for smart buildings. As the Middle East continues to lead in smart city development, location technology will play an increasingly critical role in:

• Creating responsive, intelligent building environments
• Enabling advanced smart city services and applications
• Supporting sustainable urban development through optimized operations
• Enhancing user experiences in commercial and residential spaces

Smart Building Technology Leadership

Penguin Location Services’ participation in the Future Cities Summit reinforced our position as a thought leader in smart building technology and indoor positioning solutions. Our vision that buildings cannot be truly smart without location awareness has become increasingly validated as smart city initiatives expand across the region.

The feedback from municipalities, developers, and technology leaders at the summit confirmed that location services will be essential infrastructure for the smart cities of tomorrow.

Read more: Indoor Positioning – Smart Building Technology

Penguin Location Services Demonstrates First Large-Scale Indoor Navigation Deployment in the UAE

On December 17, 2013, Penguin Location Services announced the successful testing of its first large-scale indoor navigation technology deployment in the Middle East. The pilot project was rolled out in a major multi-level shopping mall in the UAE, making it one of the region’s earliest examples of indoor positioning and wayfinding technology in a real-world environment.

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A Breakthrough in Indoor Navigation

Unlike many indoor navigation demos limited to small areas, Penguin’s solution was tested across a large, multi-floor retail environment and made publicly accessible for visitors and tenants to experience first-hand.

Key features showcased included:

• Accurate indoor positioning – average accuracy of 2.3 meters.

• Fast refresh rates – location updates every 3.1 seconds.

• Reliable floor transition detection – 100% accuracy moving between levels.

• Intuitive UI and wayfinding features – simple navigation for shoppers.

• Location-based notifications – enabling personalized promotions and alerts.

• Business rules and analytics – insights into visitor movement and behavior.

This demonstration proved that indoor navigation systems could deliver both technical performance and valuable commercial applications for large venues.

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Monetization and ROI for Shopping Malls

For mall operators and tenants, indoor positioning technology unlocks new opportunities to:

• Enhance visitor experience with seamless navigation.

• Deliver location-based promotions to increase sales.

• Track visitor flows and dwell times for tenant performance analysis.

• Improve safety and emergency response with real-time location data.

Mall management teams quickly recognized the potential to digitize physical spaces, blending retail with digital services to create smarter shopping environments.

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A Foundation for Future Mega-Projects

This early success in the UAE set the stage for Penguin’s later achievements in some of the region’s most ambitious projects, including:

• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – delivering indoor navigation in the world’s largest indoor theme park.

• Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) – improving patient experience and asset tracking in one of Saudi Arabia’s largest healthcare networks.

• Saudi Telecom Company (STC) – deploying enterprise-grade indoor positioning to support digital transformation.

• King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) – powering navigation across the world’s largest smart campus.

• King Saud University (KSAU) – enabling seamless wayfinding for students, staff, and visitors.

From retail malls to hospitals, smart campuses, and mega-developments, Penguin Location Services has consistently delivered scalable, accurate, and enterprise-ready indoor positioning solutions.

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Looking Ahead

The 2013 mall deployment marked a turning point for Penguin Location Services, proving that indoor navigation and positioning could work at scale in the real world. Today, Penguin continues to refine its AI-powered RTLS platform, offering asset tracking, workflow optimization, wayfinding, and safety solutions to enterprises worldwide.

With proven deployments in retail, healthcare, enterprise, and smart cities, Penguin remains at the forefront of digitizing physical spaces and delivering measurable ROI for clients.