RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has attributed its continued lead in the E-Government and Mobile Government Services Maturity Index across the Middle East and North Africa region for the fourth consecutive year to five key factors, according to Abdulwahab Al-Baddah, official spokesperson for the Digital Government Authority, in remarks to Al-Eqtisadiah.
These factors include integration of work between government entities, development of national digital infrastructure, expansion of electronic services, adoption of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, alongside a focus on improving the beneficiary experience and measuring satisfaction levels.
Al-Baddah said that Saudi Arabia’s continued lead in the index reflects a sustainable institutional transformation in the development of government services, affirming that what has been achieved goes beyond being a temporary accomplishment to become a working model focused on raising the quality of services and enhancing their efficiency within the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.
Al-Baddah affirmed that this integrated system has contributed to establishing a sustainable institutional model for digital transformation, noting that maintaining the regional lead for the fourth consecutive time reflects the success of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation journey.
He considered what has been achieved to be a sustainable institutional model, saying: “It is not a temporary achievement, but a sustainable institutional working model focused on developing government services, raising their quality, and improving the beneficiary experience.”
Institutional transformation reinforces sustainability of achievement
Al-Baddah also explained that maintaining first place for the fourth consecutive time reflects the support enjoyed by the digital government system, and confirms the success of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation journey and its evolution into a sustainable institutional working model that focuses on the continuous development of government services and improving their quality and the beneficiary experience.
He added that the continued regional lead reflects the success of government entities in transforming digital transformation from developmental initiatives into an integrated institutional system based on continuous improvement and raising the efficiency of government performance.
Government integration and artificial intelligence behind the lead
Al-Baddah pointed out that maintaining first place came as a result of an integrated system, led by partnership between government entities, development of national digital infrastructure, expansion in providing services through digital platforms, alongside employing emerging technologies and artificial intelligence in developing government services.
He added that the focus on beneficiary experience and measuring user satisfaction has become one of the most important drivers of service development, as government entities continuously rely on performance indicators and beneficiary satisfaction measurement results to simplify procedures, raise service efficiency, and improve the quality of the digital experience.
Impact of digital transformation goes beyond indicators
Al-Baddah affirmed that the results of digital transformation are no longer limited to achieving advanced positions in international indicators, but have become tangible in the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors, noting that digital services in the health sector have enabled access to medical services and remote appointment booking, while many judicial procedures have become available electronically, and government platforms have contributed to facilitating the issuance and renewal of official documents.
Digital solutions in the customs clearance sector, according to the official spokesperson for the Digital Government Authority, have contributed to speeding up procedures and raising the efficiency of completing transactions, which has been reflected in the quality of government services, the speed of their completion, and improving the beneficiary experience.
Regional lead enhances global presence
Al-Baddah believes that maintaining first place regionally comes as an extension of a series of international achievements Saudi Arabia has made in the field of digital government, most notably achieving 2nd place globally in the Digital Government Maturity Index issued by the World Bank for 2025, and the selection of Riyadh as the headquarters for the Global Center for Digital Government in partnership with the UN.
He said these achievements reflect growing international confidence in the Saudi experience, and confirm Saudi Arabia’s success in building an advanced digital system based on innovation, keeping pace with the best global practices in delivering government services.
Artificial intelligence leads the next phase
Al-Baddah pointed out that the next phase will focus on continuing to develop digital government services and making greater use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence, in a way that ensures the delivery of more efficient and easier services, and enhances the Kingdom’s competitiveness in global digital government indicators.
He affirmed that the development of digital services is no longer limited to improving the beneficiary experience, but has become a pillar for enhancing the efficiency of government performance, supporting the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, and cementing Saudi Arabia’s position among the world’s leading countries in digital government.
