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AlUla Joins Five Saudi Cities in IMD Smart City Index 2025

This marks AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time - SPA
This marks AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time - SPA
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AlUla Joins Five Saudi Cities in IMD Smart City Index 2025

This marks AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time - SPA
This marks AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time - SPA

AlUla has been included in the Smart City Index 2025, issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), alongside five other Saudi cities: Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al-Khobar.
This milestone highlights the progress of Saudi Vision 2030 in advancing smart city transformation, driven by pioneering initiatives led by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in collaboration with various government entities, according to SPA.

These efforts aim to develop cities that uphold the highest quality of life standards.
AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time this year underscores Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans to transform the city into a premier heritage, cultural, and tourism destination.

This is achieved by leveraging AI-powered technologies to preserve archaeological sites while enhancing the visitor experience through innovative digital solutions.

These include smart mobility services, crowd management systems, and interactive applications that provide an immersive and efficient way to explore the city.

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Saudi Arabia Tops MENA Region in E-Government Services for Third Consecutive Year in 2024

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Tops MENA Region in E-Government Services for Third Consecutive Year in 2024

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia ranked first among Middle East and North African countries in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index, issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), securing the top position for the third consecutive time with a high maturity rate of 96% in the overall assessment.

Digital Government Authority Governor Eng. Ahmed bin Mohammed Alsuwaiyan stressed that this achievement reflects the significant support and interest that the wise leadership has given to the digital government ecosystem, which has contributed to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position in international rankings.

He also highlighted the pivotal role of integration among government agencies, their reliance on emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, and the launch of initiatives and digital products aimed at improving the beneficiaries' experience.

Saudi Arabia has made significant progress since 2020, starting in fourth place, advancing to second in 2021, then taking the lead in 2022 and maintaining it in the 2023 and 2024 editions. This progress is attributed to substantial improvements in digital services across vital sectors such as health, education, and smart cities.

Electronic healthcare solutions, such as digital prescriptions, appointment bookings through government platforms, and telehealth services, have improved access to services and increased beneficiary satisfaction. Additionally, digital educational services, including remote learning platforms and electronic university admissions, have enhanced users' ability to access government services with flexibility and high quality.

Saudi Arabia outperformed 16 countries in the index, which was based on the maturity assessment of 100 priority government services provided to individuals and the business sector through electronic portals and smart applications. This was measured across three sub-indicators: a score of 99% in the Service Availability and Development indicator, 93% in the Service Usage and Beneficiary Satisfaction indicator, and 99% in the Public Outreach indicator.