The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has secured the top spot in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index for the year 2023, as announced by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). This remarkable achievement marks the second consecutive time Saudi Arabia has led the rankings, boasting an impressive maturity score of 93% in the overall index.
H.E. Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Alsuwaiyan, the Governor of Digital Government Authority, hailed this accomplishment as a testament to the concerted efforts of government agencies towards digital transformation. He emphasized the unwavering support extended by the nation’s leadership towards the digital government ecosystem, aligning with the ambitious objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030. The vision aims at fostering a digital society and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance productivity, efficiency, and user experience across all sectors.
The Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMS) evaluates 17 countries annually based on the maturity of 84 priority government services accessible to individuals and businesses through online portals and smart applications. Saudi Arabia’s dominance was evident across all indicators, showcasing significant advancements in each category. Notably, in the Service Availability and Sophistication indicator, the Kingdom achieved an impressive maturity rate of 98%, marking a notable increase from the previous year. Similarly, in the Service Usage and Satisfaction indicator, Saudi Arabia attained a high maturity rate of 84%, reflecting a substantial improvement over 2022. Remarkably, the Kingdom recorded a perfect score of 100% in the Public Outreach indicator, signaling a remarkable surge from the previous year.
This latest accolade adds to Saudi Arabia’s recent global recognition, where it ranked third among 198 countries in the GOVTECH Maturity Index for 2022 issued by the World Bank. Furthermore, the Kingdom achieved its highest-ever ranking in the E-Government Development Index issued by the United Nations, a testament to its relentless pursuit of digital excellence over the past two decades. The city of Riyadh also garnered international acclaim, securing the fourth position globally for its exemplary use of technology and its applications, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s position as a trailblazer in the realm of digital innovation on the global stage.
