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Saudi Arabia Ranks 4th Globally in Digital Services

The headquarters of the Digital Government Authority (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The headquarters of the Digital Government Authority (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Ranks 4th Globally in Digital Services

The headquarters of the Digital Government Authority (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The headquarters of the Digital Government Authority (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has excelled in the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI) and its related sub-indices, rising 25 positions in 2024 to join the ranks of leading nations globally.

The Kingdom now ranks fourth worldwide, first regionally, and second among G20 countries in the Digital Services Index. It also secured sixth place in the overall E-Government Development Index, seventh in the E-Participation Index, while Riyadh placed third in the Local E-Services Index, behind Tallinn and Madrid, out of 193 cities globally.

This achievement reflects the government’s extensive efforts and digital reforms under the Vision 2030 initiative, particularly through its Digital Transformation Program and various e-government projects. The private sector also contributed to this progress, as enhanced digital services and infrastructure boosted investor confidence and encouraged investment.

Saudi Arabia’s rise of 25 places marks the first time a Middle Eastern country has entered the global top 10 in the E-Government Index. In 2022, the Kingdom had already advanced 12 places, supported by e-government initiatives. Now, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Singapore are the only Asian countries in the top 10.

Additionally, the Kingdom ranked second globally in digital government services among G20 nations, first in the Middle East, and second in Asia. It also made substantial leaps in other areas, climbing 53 spots in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index and 31 in the Human Capital Index.

The United Nations highlighted Saudi Arabia’s remarkable progress in the E-Services Index, where it jumped 67 places to rank fourth globally. Government digital regulations and the availability of open government data both reached 100%, while the Kingdom advanced 60 places in e-participation and consultations with citizens and businesses.

The Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Al-Swaha, expressed his gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their unwavering support of the digital sector and government transformation efforts. He credited this backing for Saudi Arabia's historic rise in global digital rankings, reflecting the goals of Vision 2030 and strengthening the country's role as a leader in the regional and global digital economy.

Governor of the Digital Government Authority Ahmed Al-Suwayan highlighted that the Kingdom’s progress in the UN E-Government Development Index is a direct result of leadership support. He emphasized that reforms and investments under Vision 2030 have enhanced cooperation between government entities, leading to the adoption of emerging technologies and the launch of key digital initiatives.

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China Vows 'Necessary Spending' to Hit Economic Growth Target

FILE PHOTO: A man walks in the Central Business District on a rainy day, in Beijing, China, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A man walks in the Central Business District on a rainy day, in Beijing, China, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
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China Vows 'Necessary Spending' to Hit Economic Growth Target

FILE PHOTO: A man walks in the Central Business District on a rainy day, in Beijing, China, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A man walks in the Central Business District on a rainy day, in Beijing, China, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

Chinese leaders pledged on Thursday to deploy "necessary fiscal spending" to meet this year's economic growth target of roughly 5%, acknowledging new problems and raising market expectations for fresh stimulus on top of measures announced this week.
The remarks, which included guidance to the government to support household consumption and stabilize the troubled real estate market, came in an official readout of a monthly meeting of top Communist Party officials, the Politburo. The September meeting is not usually a forum for macroeconomic discussions, which suggests growing anxiety over slowing growth momentum.
The world's second-largest economy faces strong deflationary pressures due to a sharp property market downturn and frail consumer confidence, which has exposed its over-reliance on exports in an increasingly tense global trade environment.
A wide range of economic data in recent months has missed forecasts, raising concerns among economists that the growth target was at risk and that a longer-term structural slowdown could be in play.
"New situations and problems" demand a sense of "responsibility and urgency," state media reported, citing the Politburo meeting.
China's central bank on Tuesday unveiled its most aggressive monetary easing since the pandemic, flagging cuts to a broad range of interest rates and a 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion) liquidity injection into the financial system, among other steps.
Beijing is considering pumping up to 1 trillion yuan into its biggest state banks to increase their capacity to support the struggling economy, primarily by issuing new special sovereign bonds, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.
Chinese real estate shares jumped more than 8% and their Hong Kong peers soared 9% after the Politburo announcement, leading broader gains in the stock market. The yuan and Chinese bond yields also rose.
The Politburo said the government should "promote the stabilization of the real estate market", expand a whitelist of housing projects that can receive further financing and revitalize idle land, according to the readout.
Officials "will respond to people's concerns, adjust home purchase restriction policies, lower existing mortgage rates and improve land, fiscal, tax and financial policies as soon as possible to push forward the new model of property development", it said.

The Politburo's endorsement of further stimulus "represents a strategic shift in macro policy, from piecemeal policies to a highly orchestrated package in the right direction," said Bruce Pang, chief economist China at Jones Lang LaSalle.
"A pick-up in government spending will probably be sufficient to drive a turnaround in business confidence, market sentiment and economic activities, helping China to catch up with potential trend growth."
China will make good use of its ultra-long special sovereign bonds and local government special bonds to support government investment, the Politburo vowed, according to Reuters. It pledged to boost income for low- and middle-income groups and support consumption as well as improve childbirth support policies.
The ministries of finance and civil affairs said on Wednesday they would distribute a one-time allowance to disadvantaged people ahead of a national holiday in early October. They vowed to prioritize employment and promote wage growth in response to steep pay cuts in some sectors and soaring youth unemployment.
"Falling inflation and private sector deleveraging mean that rate cuts alone won't dramatically boost domestic demand," said Capital Economics analyst Julian Evans-Pritchard. "Doing so would require more substantial fiscal support. There are some hints of that in the (Politburo) communique."
As flagged by central bank Governor Pan Gongsheng on Tuesday, top policymakers said China would lower the reserve requirement ratio and implement "forceful" interest rate cuts.