Saudi Arabia achieves 76% readiness to adopt emerging government technologies
The Saudi Digital Government Authority announced the results of its fourth annual “Emerging Technologies Readiness Index” report for 2024, revealing that government entities achieved a maturity level of 76.04%. This reflects the significant acceleration of the Kingdom’s digital transformation journey. The report highlights the rapid progress in the readiness of the 54 participating government entities, compared to 74.69% in 2023 with 49 participating entities, demonstrating a growing momentum towards adopting innovation and employing the latest technological solutions to serve citizens and residents.
Strategic context within Saudi Vision 2030
This achievement comes within the broader context of Saudi Vision 2030, which places digital transformation and the building of a knowledge-based economy at the heart of its priorities. Through this ambitious vision, the Kingdom seeks to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil, and developing an effective and innovative digital government is a cornerstone of achieving this. A digital government not only contributes to increasing the efficiency of government performance and reducing bureaucracy, but also acts as a catalyst for the private sector to adopt technology, creating a more dynamic and competitive economic environment both regionally and internationally.
The importance of the index and its expected impact
The Governor of the Digital Government Authority, Engineer Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Suwayan, explained that the report's findings reflect the ambitious efforts undertaken by government entities to move from the initial trial phase to the actual use of emerging technologies. He added that these technologies are no longer experimental but have become a fundamental pillar for achieving efficient government performance, increasing productivity, and accelerating completion, which directly translates into improving the end-user experience of government services. Locally, this progress means providing proactive and personalized services to citizens, while internationally, it strengthens the Kingdom's position as a leader in digital government, attracting investments and establishing it as a hub for technological innovation.
Performance details and outstanding entities
The report demonstrated the remarkable performance of government entities in several key capabilities, with "search capability" scoring 78.07%, followed by "integration capability" at 77.00%, and then "communication capability" at 75.18%. Twenty government entities were ranked at the "outstanding" and "advanced" performance levels, reflecting increasing maturity in their digital capabilities. Among the most prominent entities achieving the "outstanding" level were the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Energy, the Communications and Space Technology Commission, and the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON).
Generative artificial intelligence and future technologies
The report showcased inspiring success stories in adopting advanced technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and robotics. These technologies are being employed to automate processes, improve decision-making, and develop innovative digital services in vital sectors such as health, education, and transportation. This approach not only achieves economic savings but also contributes to building a resilient government capable of adapting to future challenges and solidifying the Kingdom's position as one of the most digitally prepared nations.
