Saudi Arabia Tops MENA Region in E-Government Services in 2024
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first among Middle East and North African countries in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index, issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), achieving the top position for the third consecutive time with an overall maturity rate of 96%.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the index reflects the strong support of the Saudi leadership for the digital government ecosystem. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Suwaiyan, Governor of the Digital Government Authority, emphasised that integration among government entities, the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies contributed to advancing the Kingdom's global position and enhancing the beneficiary experience.
Since 2020, Saudi Arabia has made notable progress, rising from fourth place to second in 2021 and leading the index in 2022, 2023, and 2024, driven by advancements in digital services in the health and education sectors. These included digital prescriptions, appointment bookings, telehealth services, and remote learning platforms, which improved service quality and beneficiary satisfaction.
The Kingdom outperformed 16 countries in the index, which assessed the maturity of 100 government services delivered via electronic portals and smart applications. Saudi Arabia scored 99% in service availability and development, 93% in service usage and beneficiary satisfaction, and 99% in public outreach.
Saudi Arabia advanced 25 places in the 2024 United Nations E-Government Development Index, becoming one of the world's leading countries. It ranked fourth globally and first regionally in the Digital Services Index, and seventh globally in the E-Participation Index.
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