The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has introduced the latest version of its strategic framework aimed at improving e-government services and fostering digital innovation. The Digital Transformation Index (DTI) for 2024 has been launched with the goal of strengthening public sector adherence to tech-related policies and boosting the quality of services provided to users, thereby reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s leadership on the global digital stage.
This initiative was announced during a virtual workshop conducted by the Saudi Digital Government Authority, which connected over 2,000 experts from 233 governmental agencies. The workshop covered various topics, such as refining measurement techniques, updating the Digital Transformation Core Criteria document, sharing achievements from the previous year’s index, and presenting a roadmap for the current cycle.
The revised criteria document now includes 96 standards, which is a reduction from the previous year’s 125. In the 2023 cycle, participation from government entities yielded an impressive 85.53 percent progress rate, with 88 agencies advancing to the stages of innovation and integration.
Comparatively, the progress rate for 2022 was 80.96 percent, showing steady improvement from 69.39 percent in 2021. Ahmed Mohammed Al-Suwaiyan, the governor and board member of the Digital Government Authority, pointed out that the DTI is a vital instrument for technological empowerment and is pivotal to the Kingdom’s digital transformation journey.
Aligned with the objectives of Vision 2030, the DTI aims to meet digitization needs, enhance e-governance, and improve the performance and efficiency of government bodies. This initiative is expected to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s digitalization, increase citizen satisfaction, and enhance the overall quality of life.
The Kingdom has been proactive in launching innovative projects to upgrade its infrastructure and boost technological skills. In collaboration with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and tech giant NVIDIA, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Industrial Artificial Intelligence Academy to develop local talent capable of leveraging industrial AI.
In recognition of these efforts, the Kingdom topped the Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index for 2023, according to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. Saudi Arabia retained its first-place position for the second year in a row, scoring 93 percent overall and demonstrating exceptional progress in each sub-indicator, thereby establishing its preeminence in digital governance.