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Saudi Arabia ranked sixth globally and third in Asia in e-government development, advancing to the top Very High (VH) class from the V2 rating it secured in 2022, according to the 2024 United Nations E-Government Survey (pdf).
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Driving the Kingdom’s rank improvement: The survey highlights political will as a key force behind Saudi Arabia’s rise in the global e-government ranking, with Saudi Vision 2030 seeing the integration of AI and blockchain technologies into public services, as well as substantial progress on e-government initiatives. The report also notes that the Kingdom boasts a 99% internet penetration rate with 98% of government services available online, and continues to shell out substantial investments into digital infrastructure via initiatives such as no-carbon 5G networks, the Sehhaty healthcare platform, and the Smart Municipalities and AI Program.
The methodology: The E-Government Development Index (EGDI) measures digital government progress based on an average of three indices: The Online Services Index (OSI), the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII), and the Human Capital Index (HCI). The 2024 survey introduces changes to subindices, with affordability replacing fixed broadband subscriptions in TII and e-government literacy added to HCI, among other changes spotlighting digital access and literacy among women and vulnerable groups, legislation for data protection, and other issues.
The breakdown: Saudi ranked fourteenth globally on the index’s TII component. For HCI, the Kingdom placed 19th globally, and for OSI, it came in fourth globally.
Riyadh stands out: The 2024 Local OSI — which tracks e-government at the municipal level — ranks Riyadh among the top three cities globally, following Madrid and Tallinn. The Kingdom’s capital delivered over 90% of assessed digital services.
