Latest news with #GovernmentElectronicandMobileServicesMaturityIndex
Observer
4 days ago
- Business
- Observer
A vision for a sustainable digital future
Digital transformation is a crucial catalyst for a country's development. Its adoption across various sectors enables nations to achieve significant improvements in productivity, efficiency and innovation. The Sultanate of Oman is a country that has made significant strides towards creating a digitally empowered society and economy. Aligning with Oman Vision 2040, the country's digital transformation aims to build a sustainable knowledge society and increase the contribution of the digital economy to its GDP, improve government services and empower the workforce. The country is now poised to unlock new opportunities, enhance efficiency and improve the quality of life for its citizens and residents. Many international agencies have acknowledged and honoured Oman for this transformative journey to modernise its economy and society. In this context is Oman's improvement 2024 ranking in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMS) with a score of 72 per cent, up from 66 per cent in 2023. The report released by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia covers 17 Arab countries and assesses digital government performance across three key dimensions – service availability and development, service uptake and satisfaction, and government outreach and engagement. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates led the index with scores of 96 per cent and 95 per cent, respectively, reflecting strong progress in national digital transformation. The index covers a wide range of sectors, including health, education, transportation, finance, justice, trade, tourism and social affairs. In a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 'underpinned by its Vision 2040, Oman has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda aiming at reducing its reliance on hydrocarbons and creating a more sustainable, more inclusive and knowledge-based economy.' Oman Vision 2040 aims to elevate the country's ranking to be among the top 20 countries globally in developing electronic services and improving its global standing in e-government development and ease of doing business indicators. The IMF eLibrary report that took stock of the state of digital transformation in Oman highlights the recent launch of the country's National Digital Economy Programme also known as "Tahweel" that aims to provide a strategic direction for the development of the digital economy and increase its contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from its current level estimated at 2 per cent to 10 per cent by 2040. The Tahweel programme plays a crucial role in enhancing participation and enabling individuals, citizens, residents and private sector institutions to contribute effectively to developing government services by submitting reports, complaints and suggestions. In addition, this programme aims to advance Oman's global ranking in various digital economy indicators identified in Vision 2040, such as the e-government development index and the network readiness index. However, the IMF report suggests that while Oman has progressed well on many aspects of digitalisation, such as Internet penetration and 4G and 5G population coverage, it still needs to deploy additional investments and efforts to match its GCC peers on several other aspects. 'Further efforts are particularly needed to raise Internet connection speed, increase the prevalence of advanced ICT skills among the population, usher in digital innovation and promote e-commerce. The analyses indicate that enhanced digitalisation, can, in turn, engender substantial gains," the report suggests. A report by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology stated that government entities in Oman have made remarkable progress in implementing digital transformation requirements. According to the report, the Tahweel programme has achieved an overall performance rate of 73 per cent by the end of November 2024, a significant increase from 53 per cent in 2023. Government institutions demonstrated an average performance of 77 per cent in meeting digital transformation requirements, while governorates averaged 71 per cent. BLURB Oman is now poised to unlock new opportunities, enhance efficiency and improve the quality of life for its citizens and residents. Many international agencies have acknowledged and honoured Oman for this transformative journey to modernise its economy and society
Al Etihad
08-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE hits near-perfect digital services maturity score in new UN report
9 May 2025 00:10 ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)The UAE has achieved a near-perfect result of 95% in the UN's latest Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMS 2024). It received full marks in 24 out of 35 key performance indicators, putting it in the top tier of the "very advanced maturity" category - an honour reserved for only three of the 17 countries a score of 0.95, the UAE came just 0.01 points behind the top-ranked country, Saudi Arabia. What set the UAE apart, however, was the consistency and depth of its digital government infrastructure, especially in mobile services, where it clearly led the report, published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, evaluates government service maturity across three core areas: Service Availability and Development; User Uptake and Satisfaction; and Government Outreach and UAE claimed the top spot in the first cluster with a flawless 100%. It also secured the highest position in the third cluster, where it shared the lead with Saudi Arabia at 99%. In the second cluster, the UAE came in second with a score of 88%, again one of the highest in the GEMS Index stands apart from other international digital rankings by going beyond basic service availability. It also looks at how services evolve, whether people use them, how satisfied they are, and how well governments engage the public. The assessment spans 100 essential services people rely on in daily life - from health and education to employment, transport, and institutional UAE delivered exceptionally high marks across all categories, but its edge was most visible in mobile service delivery. Of the 35 key performance indicators evaluated across all platforms, it ranked first in eight and shared the top spot in another 16, the majority of which were linked to mobile access and functionality. These included everything from service availability and platform sophistication to accessibility for people with disabilities, multilingual support, and overall user year's results show clear progress for the UAE. The country improved by three percentage points over last year's score of 92%, reflecting the leadership's approach of not just expanding digital services, but also paying attention to how well they work in practice. The Arab region as a whole showed modest improvement, with the average maturity score rising from 43% in 2023 to 45% in 2024. The report recorded a 16% increase in the number of services evaluated this year, which it said points to a broader regional move toward digital transformation, as more governments scale up efforts to digitise public services.
Muscat Daily
07-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman improves ranking in UN index of digital governance
Muscat – Oman has improved its ranking in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMS) with a score of 72%, compared to 66% in 2023, according to a report released by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on Monday. The report covers 17 Arab countries and assesses digital government performance across three key dimensions – service availability and development, service uptake and satisfaction, and government outreach and engagement. Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates led the index with scores of 96% and 95%, respectively, reflecting strong progress in national digital transformation. The index covers a wide range of sectors, including health, education, transportation, finance, justice, trade, tourism and social affairs. The index highlighted gains in Oman's performance across the key pillars of digital maturity. The sultanate's score in the service availability and development pillar rose to 80%, up from 76.64% in 2023. Service uptake and satisfaction increased to 63%, compared to 51.95% last year, while the score for government outreach and engagement rose from 73.78% to 78%. The index also showed a sharp rise in Oman's evaluation indicators. The level of service development for electronic portals improved to 94% from 84.45% in 2023. User satisfaction with these portals was 89%, up from 76.44%. Mobile application availability also improved to 60%, compared to 49.97% last year, while user satisfaction of mobile platforms increased to 62%, up from 47.76%. Nawar al Awa, ESCWA's GEMS project lead, noted that despite overall progress in the region, a significant digital divide remains between countries with advanced digital infrastructure and those in the early stages of digital development. This gap widened from 91% in 2023 to 95% in 2024, largely due to disparities in resources and challenges in adopting emerging technologies.
Observer
07-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman sees strong gains in digital government services
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has recorded significant progress in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMSMI), advancing by six percentage points to reach a 72% score, up from 66% in 2023. The index, issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), assesses the maturity of digital government services delivered via electronic portals and mobile applications across Arab countries. The evaluation covered 27 government institutions in Oman and reviewed a total of 94 services across diverse sectors, including health, education, transportation, police, finance, justice, municipal and social affairs, trade and industry, labor, and tourism. The 2024 results highlight notable improvements across all key performance pillars of the index. In the pillar of Service Availability and Development, Oman achieved an 80% score, up from 76.64% last year. Service Usage and User Satisfaction also saw a marked improvement, reaching 63%, compared to 51.95% in 2023. Public Access rose to 78%, up from 73.78% the previous year, reflecting expanded outreach and digital inclusiveness. Moreover, Oman recorded a 94% performance level in service development on electronic portals, a notable rise from 84.45%. User satisfaction with the electronic portals climbed to 89%, compared to 76.44% in 2023. On the mobile side, application availability improved to 60%, from 49.97%, while mobile user satisfaction grew to 62%, up from 47.76%. The GEMSMI report underlines Oman's steady advancement in e-government transformation, positioning it among the leading countries in the Arab region in terms of digital maturity. ESCWA developed the index as a benchmarking tool to track and encourage the development of digital government services and to guide policymaking and strategic planning in support of national digital transformation programs. A total of 17 countries took part in this year's index evaluation. The 2024 edition also saw an expansion in the number of government services assessed and the inclusion of new performance indicators to better reflect the evolving landscape of digital public services in the Arab world. — ONA
Saudi Gazette
06-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Crown Prince calls for utmost efficiency and excellence in serving Hajj pilgrims
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has directed all relevant authorities to operate with utmost efficiency and excellence in implementing security, preventive, and organizational plans to serve the Hajj pilgrims in Makkah, Madinah, the holy sites, and at the Kingdom's entry points. Chairing the Cabinet session in Jeddah on Tuesday, the Crown Prince specially highlighted the arrangements made to facilitate pilgrim arrivals under the Makkah Route Initiative. The Crown Prince, on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, welcomed pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom from around the world to perform Hajj rituals this year. He expressed gratitude to God Almighty for bestowing Saudi Arabia the honor of serving the Two Holy Mosques, caring for their visitors, and ensuring their safety and comfort. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet reviewed the significant progress in the Kingdom's economic performance indicators, increased investment levels, greater private sector participation in development, and integrated efforts among government sectors to maximize national resource utilization. The Cabinet confirmed that the record performance of non-oil exports in 2024 and their continued growth reflect the Kingdom's accelerated efforts to diversify income and capitalize on global opportunities to achieve new gains in line with Vision 2030 goals. The Cabinet praised the ongoing significant improvements in digital services across vital sectors, which contributed to the Kingdom ranking first among Middle East and North African countries for the third consecutive year in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index, issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The Cabinet also regarded the Kingdom's remarkable leap of 92 positions in the 2024 Open Data Inventory report, issued by the Open Data Watch, as a reflection of its commitment to enhancing the quality of statistical indicators, facilitating access to information, and ensuring reliability and transparency. The minister stated that the Cabinet also discussed recent regional and international developments, along with the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions. He added that the Kingdom continues to work closely with friendly nations to address crises, reduce tensions, and promote respect for international law in pursuit of a more stable and prosperous world. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's continued efforts to mobilize international support to end violence, protect civilians, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected areas in Palestine. It also reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to advancing the two-state solution as the only path to achieving lasting peace and security. The Cabinet strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on Syria's sovereignty and security, warning that the continuation of such violations and extremist policies exacerbates the risk of regional violence and instability. The Cabinet called for an immediate end to the war in Sudan and urged efforts to spare the country further suffering and destruction. It emphasized that resolving the crisis requires a Sudanese-led political solution that respects the country's sovereignty and unity and is supported by its national institutions. The Cabinet approved the National Strategy Governance Model. It granted the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing the authority to sell housing units—in the ministry's projects—to non-beneficiaries of housing support, in accordance with regulations established by the ministry in conjunction with relevant authorities. The Cabinet endorsed a declaration of intent between the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty for cooperation in critical minerals. The Council authorized the minister of industry and mineral resources or his deputy to discuss and sign with the US side a draft memorandum of cooperation in the field of mining and mineral resources between the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the US Department of Energy. It authorized the minister of tourism or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Belizean side a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and the Belizean Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. The Cabinet approved an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Djibouti on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments, and another MoU between the Saudi Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority and Enterprise Estonia in the development of the small and medium enterprises sector and entrepreneurship. The Council approved a MoU between the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority and the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency for cooperation in tax administration. It authorized the minister of environment, water and agriculture and chairman of the board of directors of the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Uzbek side a draft MoU between the Saudi NCVC and the Uzbek Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change for cooperation in vegetation development and combating desertification. The Cabinet approved the guiding model of a MoU for cooperation in the field of roads between the Saudi Roads General Authority and its counterpart agencies in other countries, and authorizing the minister of transport and logistic services and chairman of the board of directors of the Roads General Authority or his deputy to discuss and sign with counterpart agencies in other countries draft MoU for cooperation in the field of roads, based on the guiding model. The Council also approved the guiding model of a MoU for cooperation in combating human trafficking crimes between the Saudi Human Rights Commission and its counterpart agencies in other countries, and authorizing the president of the Human Rights Commission or her deputy to discuss and sign with counterpart agencies of the commission in other countries draft MoU for cooperation in combating human trafficking crimes, based on the guiding model.
