Saudi Arabia tops MENA digital economy rankings with $132bn market
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has emerged as the Middle East and North Africa's largest digital economy, with a market value exceeding SR495 billion ($131.9 billion) in 2024, equivalent to 15 percent of the national gross domestic product.
The figures were shared by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
This comes as Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its role as a regional and global digital powerhouse, underpinned by significant advancements in artificial intelligence, data centers, e-government, and human capital development.
'The communications and information technology market recorded record growth exceeding SR180 billion in 2024, driven by expanding private sector investments and increasing innovation, which strengthened the Kingdom's position as the largest technology market in the Middle East,' the SPA report stated.
The country has invested over SR55 billion in AI technologies and data center infrastructure, contributing to a 42 percent increase in national data center capacity in 2024, reaching 290.5 megawatts.
The Kingdom's efforts are exemplified by the launch of Humain, a state-backed AI company, which underscores this commitment.
Humain aims to build AI technologies and infrastructure, including large data centers and Arabic-language AI models, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global AI hub.
The Kingdom has actively sought partnerships with leading global tech companies. Notably, Nvidia is set to supply 18,000 of its advanced AI chips to Saudi Arabia as part of a strategic partnership with Humain.
Fiber-optic coverage now extends to over 3.9 million homes, while internet penetration has reached 99 percent, placing Saudi Arabia among the most connected nations globally.
This infrastructure expansion supports high-efficiency digital services and reflects the Kingdom's readiness to support cloud computing and smart applications.
Human capital development remains a cornerstone of the digital transformation strategy.
Saudi Arabia hosts the largest concentration of digital talent in the Middle East, with over 381,000 specialized jobs in the technology sector.
Women's participation in the sector has increased from 7 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2024, the highest in the region and surpassing averages in both the G20 and the European Union.
In the area of digital governance, the Kingdom has achieved top-tier global rankings. It ranked fourth globally in the UN's Online Services Index, sixth in the E-Government Development Index, and second among G20 nations.
Regionally, it holds the number one position in digital government services. Additionally, the Kingdom secured first place worldwide in digital skills and open digital government, and seventh in e-participation.
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