Saudi Arabia has embarked on a path of digital transformation and a knowledge-based economy as part of Vision 2030, relying on an advanced digital infrastructure and a knowledge base accumulated over many years, which has enhanced its ability to compete in future economies.
This transformation has been driven by a national ambition to diversify the economy, create new job opportunities, and empower youth through building an integrated system that supports innovation, research, and technology.
Paperless Government
As part of this transformation, the Kingdom adopted a "paperless government" policy, which aimed to facilitate beneficiaries' access to government services through unified digital platforms covering various sectors such as justice, health, tourism, investment, housing, logistics, and real estate, among others.
This approach contributed to reducing and simplifying procedures, enabling beneficiaries to complete their transactions without the need for personal presence, whether they are citizens, residents, investors, or visitors, as stated in the Vision 2030 Annual Report for 2025.
Comprehensive Government Program
The Digital Government Authority also launched the Comprehensive Government program in 2022, aiming to accelerate digital transformation, enhance integration among government entities, and provide an integrated digital experience that simplifies the beneficiary's journey and increases the efficiency of government resource utilization in the digital space.
This has been reflected in several qualitative successes, most notably the Balady platform, which contributed to the closure of 37 government platforms with an achievement rate exceeding 80 percent, in addition to the Logisti platform, which offers over 200 services, and the Sehaty platform, which serves more than 30 million beneficiaries.
Global AI Hub
In the field of artificial intelligence, the Kingdom has solidified its position as an advanced global hub, leveraging the availability of energy, digital infrastructure, and data centers, making it an attractive destination for AI technologies.
Humain company was launched as an integrated national project aimed at localizing artificial intelligence technologies, developing large language models that support Arabic content, and operating advanced applications in data centers; including AI technologies in Dammam.
Investments are also being made in building human capabilities by integrating artificial intelligence into educational curricula and launching training programs targeting students and national talents, thereby enhancing the readiness of future generations.
Humain Company
Humain was launched in 2025 and is developing advanced AI solutions, including a smart Arabic assistant, leading language models, a fully AI-powered operating system, in addition to devices and technologies developed within the Kingdom, serving hundreds of thousands of users. The number of active users exceeds 300,000, and its services extend to 5 different markets, supporting over 150 digital applications and services.
Digital Transformation of the Judicial Sector
In the judicial sector, digital services have undergone a qualitative leap, offering over 160 electronic services that saved approximately 90 million papers annually and eliminated 65 million visits. This is in addition to the digitization of more than 200 million real estate documents and the implementation of electronic litigation, which reduced the duration of cases by 79 percent, alongside the launch of Virtual Court and Virtual Notary Public.
This development is based on an advanced digital infrastructure and a secure, reliable digital space, which has led the Kingdom towards a more advanced stage that goes beyond merely providing services to enhancing user experience and eliminating complexity.
Digital and Knowledge-based Economy
In terms of the digital and knowledge-based economy, the Kingdom has established its position as one of the strongly emerging economies of the future, through developing an integrated legislative and institutional system. This included the establishment of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, the Research Development and Innovation Authority, and the Saudi Space Agency, in addition to reorganizing the Communications, Space & Technology Commission, establishing the National Information Technology Development Program, and enhancing the role of research and innovation centers such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).
Digital Security
A national framework was also established to enhance the security of the digital space as part of national security, contributing to economic and social stability, empowering technology companies, and fostering the growth of digital services.
This was supported by the establishment of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the National Cybersecurity Authority, in addition to international initiatives such as the Child Protection in Cyberspace Initiative; all of which contributed to strengthening the Kingdom's global leadership in technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Digital Economy Market
Economic indicators reflect the scale of this transformation, as the size of the digital economy market in the Kingdom reached 745.98 billion Saudi Riyals ($198.9 billion), while the size of the communications and information technology market reached 199 billion Saudi Riyals. Several Saudi technology companies have emerged as billion-dollar enterprises signifying the growth and accelerated maturity of the digital sector.
Leading Positions in Global Indices
Advanced international indicators reflect the Kingdom's position in the digital and technical fields, where it ranked first globally in the Telecommunication and ICT Development Index, and first globally in the Cybersecurity Index for the second consecutive year according to the Global Competitiveness Report. It also led globally in empowering women in artificial intelligence, according to the Stanford index.
Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in the Digital Readiness Index 2025, issued by the International Telecommunication Union.
Regionally, the Kingdom ranked first in the AI Safety Index, while achieving 11th place globally. It also led regionally in the Shaheen III supercomputer, ranking 18th globally.
The Kingdom ranked first regionally in government readiness for artificial intelligence, according to the Oxford Insights report.
Globally, the Kingdom achieved second place in the Digital Government Maturity Index, third globally in the growth rate of AI jobs, and also third globally in the number of leading AI models, according to the Stanford index, in addition to being among the 7 countries worldwide that have published leading AI models.
It also ranked second among G20 countries in the Telecommunications and Technology Sector Regulatory Development Index, sixth globally in the E-Government Development Index, and 20th globally in the Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index.
