Saudi Arabia ranks 4th and Riyadh 3rd globally in digital services
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia ranked fourth globally in the United Nations E-Government Development Index 2024 (EGDI 2024). The Kingdom jumped 25 places in the EGDI 2024 to be among the group of leading countries worldwide. It also ranked second among the G20 countries and first regionally in the digital services index in addition to achieving seventh place in the e-participation index. The city of Riyadh has achieved third place out of 193 cities around the world.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital Government Authority Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha expressed his thanks and appreciation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for the unlimited support that the technical and digital sector receives and the efforts being made to support the digital transformation in the government sector.
Al-Swaha said that this leap and historical position of the Kingdom is the result of the support from the Crown Prince, noting that this support has culminated in Saudi Arabia's digital superiority and leadership, which reflects the plans and programs of Saudi Vision 2030. 'At the same time, it enhances the Kingdom's role as an effective and influential leader in the digital economy at the regional and global levels,' he said while stressing the Kingdom's determination to move forward in the journey of leadership, pioneering and transformation towards a national economy based on innovation.
For his part, Governor of the Digital Government Authority Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan explained that the Kingdom's continued advancement in the United Nations E-Government Development Index reflects the support of the wise leadership to provide the best government digital services to all segments of beneficiaries. He appreciated the keenness and follow-up that the digital government has received through the executive programs of Saudi Vision 2030, saying that this had a great impact on advancing its ranking in the index, through reforms and investments that contributed to enhancing the efficiency of joint work by adopting emerging technologies and launching many digital initiatives and products.
'The efforts of the Digital Government Authority, in partnership and integration with all government agencies, have contributed to the Kingdom reaching this advanced position. This is through working to adopt the latest digital solutions to enhance the maturity of digital government services, launching a set of regulations and guidelines, providing advisory programs, and encouraging promising leaders and competencies in the field of digital transformation,' he added.
The UN report praised the Kingdom's great development in the field of digital government, as it achieved the sixth rank globally, and the Kingdom has witnessed qualitative investments over the past years since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Kingdom jumped in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII) by 53 ranks, and achieved remarkable progress in the Human Capital Index (HCI) with an advancement of 31 ranks. The report also highlighted the Electronic Services Index (OSI) and the qualitative leap of 67 ranks to occupy the fourth rank globally in 2024, in addition to the maturity of government digital regulations that reached 100 percent. The percentage of availability and sharing of open government data for citizens and business sectors reached 100 percent. Saudi Arabia advanced 60 ranks in electronic participation and consultations directed to individuals and business sectors.
It is noteworthy that the E-Government Development Index is one of the most important international indicators for more than 20 years and is issued every two years. It reflects the impact of structural reforms in increasing productivity, raising efficiency and improving the experience through the development of digital governments of the member states of the United Nations. The reports it issues are a basic reference for measuring government performance among all countries of the world.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
SOCPA fellowship opens for professionals worldwide with exam slated for September
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA) will make its fellowship available internationally by offering the exam in English alongside Arabic. This marks a strategic step that positions the qualification among the world's leading professional qualifications and reinforces the Kingdom's strong standing in the accounting profession. With this change, accountants and professionals from any country can earn the fellowship by completing the program and taking the exam in English, starting with the third sitting of 2025, scheduled for September. The SOCPA fellowship has gained recognition from respected professional bodies around the world for its rigorous standards and advanced curriculum, making it one of the most sought-after qualifications in accounting and auditing. SOCPA will continue to offer the exam in both Arabic and English in future sittings, giving candidates the flexibility to choose their preferred language. The fellowship includes six main subjects: Financial Accounting, Managerial and Governmental Accounting, Auditing, Zakat and Tax, Business Environment, and Regulations. It combines academic study with practical application, preparing members for professional practice and leadership roles in both the public and private sectors.
Saudi Gazette
4 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Ministry announces new regulatory requirements for factories within and outside urban areas
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has formulated new regulatory requirements for factories within and outside urban areas. This comes within the ministry's efforts to improve the industrial investment environment and raise the level of compliance. It also aims to make available suitable and safe locations that align with urban development plans across the Kingdom. The ministry clarified that the requirements cover all types of factories, whether located within urban areas as well as within in support service areas, or within approved plans for industrial use. The ministry explained that issuing a license requires a valid commercial registration, industrial license from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, environmental permit from the National Center for Environmental Compliance, and approval from Civil Defense, in accordance with fire protection and building safety requirements. The ministry explained that the requirements include specific spatial controls, most notably that the site shall be within areas designated for industrial or commercial use, and that its area shall be no less than 300 square meters and no more than 600 square meters. The ministry stipulated that there should be parking lots for trucks and vehicles, and designated loading and unloading areas. It also required an approved engineering design that outlines tracks for movement of trucks and pedestrians, entrances and exits, and control points. The ministry emphasized that the technical and architectural requirements mandate investors to comply with the Saudi Building Code, using fire-resistant materials, provision of ventilation, air conditioning, alarm, and fire-fighting systems, provision of accessible paths for people with disabilities, and adherence to the design of facades in accordance with the urban code or approved design ministry emphasized the need to adhere to operational requirements, which include installation of security surveillance cameras, placement of internal signage, provision of electronic payment methods in the presence of sales outlets, and prohibition of operating outside the boundaries of the licensed site or after the expiration of license. It also emphasized the display of a unified electronic code (QR) associated with the license data, ensuring transparency and ease of ministry pointed out that the requirements stipulate the separation of primary and secondary activities, implementation of waste management mechanisms, and standards for public hygiene and periodic maintenance. It noted that municipal authorities monitor the implementation of these requirements on the ground and enforce the municipal penalties listed on violating facilities. This is part of improving the quality of industrial activities, enhancing compliance, and creating a safe and organized environment that supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Saudi Gazette
5 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia's inflation falls to 5-month low reaching 2.1% in July
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rate dropped to 2.1percent in July 2025 from 2.3 percent in the same month last year. According to the monthly report of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released on Thursday, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or inflation dropped to a 5-month low since February this year. The CPI also showed stability on a monthly basis, with prices across most categories remaining largely unchanged from June to July 2025. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) remained stable at 2.1 percent in July, while recording a slight monthly decline of 0.1 percent compared to June. According to the data released by the GASTAT, housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuel prices were the main driver of the increase, reaching 5.6 percent, driven by a 6.6 percent rise in housing rents in July. However, experts noted that the continued decline in rent inflation from 7.6 percent in June is a positive indicator of the success of the Kingdom's efforts to reform the real estate market and increase housing supply. Food and beverage prices also rose by 1.6 percent, driven by a 2.6 percent increase in poultry meat prices, and a 4.3 percent increase in miscellaneous personal goods and services prices, with jewelry, watches, and antiques prices rising by 24.7 percent. Prices in the restaurants and hotels category rose by 1.4 percent, driven by a 1.5 percent increase in restaurant and cafe prices. Meanwhile, the education category rose by 1.1 percent, impacted by a 3.8 percent increase in higher education tuition fees. In contrast, prices in the home furnishings and equipment section declined by 2 percent, impacted by a 3.9 percent decline in furniture, carpets, and floor coverings. Prices in the clothing and footwear section also declined by 0.4 percent, impacted by a 1.3 percent decline in ready-made garments. Transportation prices also decreased by 0.3 percent, impacted by a 1.6 percent decline in vehicle purchase prices. These results are consistent with the International Monetary Fund's forecast that inflation in the Kingdom will remain under control at around 2 percent in 2025 and 2026. It is noteworthy that the CPI measures changes in the prices paid by consumers for a fixed basket of 490 goods and services, while the WPI tracks changes in pre-retail prices for a fixed basket of 343 items.
