Saudi $48m culture fund may take stakes in private companies

Saudi Arabia began issuing tourism visas in September 2018. (Supplied)
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Updated 23 June 2021
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Saudi $48m culture fund may take stakes in private companies

  • Fund will begin receiving requests for beneficiaries in August
  • Financing, including crowdfunding, also being explored

RIYADH: The Saudi Cultural Development Fund may take direct stakes in private companies as it seeks to stimulate investment in the sector, said CEO Mohammed Bindayel.

Cultural projects in Saudi Arabia will receive SR180 million ($47.9 million) from the fund in 2021 and requests for beneficiaries will start to be received in August, he told Asharq.

Financing options being explored include crowdfunding, said Bindayel, who was appointed as the CEO of the fund last week.

The Cultural Development Fund, which was created to support projects of private-sector enterprises, NGOs and associations working in the cultural sectors and their supporting fields, is working within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, said Bindayel.


Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd globally in digital government, World Bank 2025 index shows


Updated 18 December 2025
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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.