United Electronics Company (eXtra), Saudi Arabia’s leading consumer electronics and home appliance retailer, has announced the opening of its first store in Yanbu, enhancing the company’s presence and bringing its nationwide network to 25 branches.
The 1,500 square-meter store in Yanbu will serve a growing population of 250,000 people living in over 75,000 houses, with each family spending on average SR 3,500 on electronic goods every year.
The total amount spent each year on electronics and home appliances in Yanbu is estimated to be approximately SR 250 million.
“We are delighted to announce the opening of our first store in Yanbu, adding to our network of stores serving customers in the Western Region,” said Mohammad Galal, CEO, United Electronics Company (eXtra).
“Our new opening in Yanbu validates our relentless commitment to reach our clients across the Kingdom, wherever they may be. This is also in line with our expansion goals which aim to see eXtra having 40 branches across Saudi Arabia by 2015. The opening of this branch follows the opening of seven stores last year, as well as one store in Jizan this year, and we have plans to open three more by the end of the current year.”
More than ten million shoppers visit eXtra’s stores annually, making it one of the fastest growing companies in the Kingdom, according to the recent ranking by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).
Offering over 12,000 different products — including an enormous range of leading international brands — eXtra ranks first in terms of the number of stores and products it offers in Saudi Arabia.
eXtra opens maiden store in Yanbu
eXtra opens maiden store in Yanbu
Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd globally in digital government, World Bank 2025 index shows
WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia has achieved a historic milestone by securing second place worldwide in the 2025 GovTech Maturity Index released by the World Bank.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a press conference in Washington, DC, which evaluated 197 countries.
The Kingdom excelled across all sub-indicators, earning a 99.64 percent overall score and placing it in the “Very Advanced” category.
It achieved a score of 99.92 percent in the Core Government Systems Index, 99.90 percent in the Public Service Delivery Index, 99.30 percent in the Digital Citizen Engagement Index, and 99.50 percent in the Government Digital Transformation Enablers Index, reflecting some of the highest global scores.
This includes outstanding performance in digital infrastructure, core government systems, digital service delivery, and citizen engagement, among the highest globally.
Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, attributed this achievement to the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership, strong intergovernmental collaboration, and effective public-private partnerships.
He highlighted national efforts over recent years to re-engineer government services and build an advanced digital infrastructure, which enabled Saudi Arabia to reach this global standing.
Al-Suwaiyan emphasized that the Digital Government Authority continues to drive innovation and enhance the quality of digital services, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the national economy and consolidating the Kingdom’s transformation goals.
The 2025 GTMI data reflects Saudi Arabia’s excellence across key areas, including near-perfect scores in core government systems, public service delivery, digital citizen engagement, and government digital transformation enablers. This balanced performance places the Kingdom firmly in the “Grade A” classification for very advanced countries, demonstrating the maturity of its digital government ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia’s progress in the index has been remarkable: from 49th place in the 2020 edition, to third in 2022, and now second in 2025, confirming its status as a global leader in digital transformation and innovation.
The achievement also reflects the Kingdom’s focus on putting people at the center of digital transformation, enhancing user experience, improving government efficiency, and integrating artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across public services.
