Saudi Arabia Adopts New System To Enhance Cyber Security

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology held a number of meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology held a number of meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Adopts New System To Enhance Cyber Security

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology held a number of meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology held a number of meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. (SPA)

The Saudi Council of Ministers has recently approved the information and communications technology (ICT) system, with the aim to develop the sector and raise the efficiency of its services.

According to the new system, service providers should take full care to ensure the protection of cyber security and critical infrastructure in the country, according to the requirements of the competent authorities.

The system aims to develop the ICT sector, to raise the efficiency of its services and develop its infrastructure, as well as to encourage digital transformation and the use of communications and information technology it in all fields.

The objectives of the system also include encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, research and technical progress within the sector, develop subsidiary activities and emerging technologies, and promote new services, in addition to providing an attractive environment for investments in priority areas, and raising the efficiency of national companies.

Eng. Abdullah Al-Sawaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, has recently met with his counterparts from Rwanda and Finland, with the aim to strengthen the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and friendly countries, and discuss means to support mechanisms of joint cooperation in the fields of technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and building digital capabilities.

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Al-Sawaha also held meetings with a number of heads of major IT companies to discuss available investment opportunities. Those included Tech Mahindra CEO Chander Prakash Gurnani, Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal and Alibaba Group Chairman John Michael Evans.



Saudi Arabia’s Non-Oil Industrial Sector Grows 5.3% in 2024

Saudi flags along a street in the capital, Riyadh (Reuters) 
Saudi flags along a street in the capital, Riyadh (Reuters) 
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Saudi Arabia’s Non-Oil Industrial Sector Grows 5.3% in 2024

Saudi flags along a street in the capital, Riyadh (Reuters) 
Saudi flags along a street in the capital, Riyadh (Reuters) 

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil industrial sector recorded a strong 5.3% growth in 2024, underlining the Kingdom’s ongoing progress in diversifying its economy in line with the Vision 2030 agenda. The latest figures from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) reveal that this growth was largely driven by manufacturing, utilities, and infrastructure development.

Despite the robust performance of the non-oil sector, overall industrial production declined by 2.3% compared to 2023. This contraction was mainly due to a 5.2% drop in oil-related activities, following the Kingdom’s adherence to OPEC+ oil production cuts. As a result, mining and quarrying shrunk by 6.8%.

Manufacturing expanded by 4.7% year-on-year, with food production up 6.2% and chemical manufacturing, including refined petroleum products, rising by 2.8%. These gains reflect increasing industrial capacity and rising demand in both domestic and export markets.

Other areas of growth included utilities and public services. Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning activities grew by 3.5%, while water supply, sewage, and waste management services posted a 1.6% increase.

Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim recently stated that non-oil activities now account for 53% of the Kingdom’s real GDP, compared to significantly lower levels before the launch of Vision 2030. He also noted a 70% increase in private investment in non-oil sectors over the same period.

The Kingdom’s non-oil exports reached SAR 515 billion (approximately $137 billion) in 2024, marking a 13% rise over 2023 and a 113% increase since 2016. Export growth spanned petrochemical and non-petrochemical products, with merchandise exports alone totaling SAR 217 billion.

According to a recent World Bank report, Saudi Arabia’s economy grew by 1.8% in 2024, up from 0.3% in 2023. While oil-sector output fell 3%, the non-oil economy expanded by 3.7%, cushioning the broader economy from energy market volatility. The World Bank forecasts continued growth, projecting a 2.8% increase in 2025 and an average of 4.6% annually through 2026 and 2027.