Saudi Arabia showcases its digital infrastructure at the United Nations as part of its Vision 2030
At a high-level international forum, Saudi Arabia showcased its significant progress in digital infrastructure, emphasizing the role of digital innovation as a key driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This took place during an event titled “Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development,” held on the sidelines of the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Context of the event and Vision 2030
This participation comes within the framework of the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, launched in 2016 with the aim of diversifying the national economy and reducing dependence on oil. Digital transformation is a key pillar of this vision, with the Kingdom investing heavily in developing advanced digital infrastructure, including 5G networks, expanding fiber optic coverage, and establishing massive data centers. These efforts have resulted in the establishment of specialized regulatory and legislative bodies, such as the Digital Government Authority and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), positioning the Kingdom among the world's leading nations in this field.
Details of Saudi participation
The event was chaired by the Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, who emphasized in his opening remarks that digital innovation is no longer an option but an imperative for achieving inclusive economic growth and social inclusion. Ambassador Al-Wasil reviewed the Kingdom's tangible achievements, highlighting significant advancements in digital government, e-health services, distance learning, and smart cities. He stressed that these successes are a direct result of the unwavering support of the wise leadership and its ambitious vision for the Kingdom's future.
Importance and expected impact
Domestically, this progress directly impacts the quality of life for citizens and residents by facilitating access to government services through platforms like “Absher” and “Tawakkalna,” and by creating new job opportunities in the digital economy. Regionally, these achievements reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading digital hub in the Middle East and an attractive destination for foreign investment in the technology sector. Internationally, the Kingdom’s participation in these international events highlights its role as an active partner in the global community. Ambassador Al-Wasil emphasized the importance of international digital cooperation in bridging the digital divide between nations and supporting developing countries to leverage modern technologies, as demonstrated by the Kingdom’s support for the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), headquartered in Riyadh.
The event concluded by emphasizing the need to build multi-stakeholder partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society to provide supportive environments for digital transformation, ensuring the acceleration of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
