Saudi Arabia ranks top in region, 4th globally in UN digital government services index

Saudi Arabia has surged 25 places to become one of the world’s top countries in the United Nations' E-Government Development Index for 2024, as revealed in the latest report published on Tuesday. The Kingdom now ranks first in the region, second among G20 nations, and fourth globally in digital services.

Riyadh, the capital city, also achieved a remarkable third place among 193 cities worldwide. Saudi Arabia’s rise in the rankings has been attributed to substantial progress in digital government, with the country now ranked sixth globally in this area. Additionally, the Kingdom secured seventh place on the e-participation index.

The Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Al-Swaha, who chairs the board of the Digital Government Authority, praised King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support. He noted that this historic leap in the global rankings is the result of efforts aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a leader in the digital economy.

Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, Governor of the Digital Government Authority, emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s consistent progress in the rankings highlights the leadership’s commitment to delivering world-class digital government services. He credited Saudi Vision 2030 for significantly improving the Kingdom's performance in various digital sectors.

Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has made notable strides in several indices. The Kingdom has advanced 53 places on the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index and improved by 31 places on the Human Capital Index. In addition, Saudi Arabia jumped 67 places on the Online Service Index, securing fourth place globally in 2024.

The UN report also noted that Saudi Arabia’s digital government regulations have reached a maturity level of 100 percent. The accessibility and sharing of open government data with both citizens and the business sector have contributed to the Kingdom's rise. Saudi Arabia also improved by 60 places in the areas of e-participation and consultation with the public and businesses.

The UN’s E-Government Development Index, released every two years, is a significant global benchmark for measuring the impact of digital government reforms on productivity, efficiency, and user experience across UN member states.