Saudi Arabia ranks 1st in MENA region for e-government services

Saudi Arabia has once again emerged as the frontrunner in e-government services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the latest United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) index for e-government services.

The Kingdom secured the top ranking in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index for 2023 with an impressive score of 93 percent. This achievement marks the second consecutive year that Saudi Arabia has maintained its leadership position in the index.

Key metrics and evaluation process

The Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index evaluates countries based on the accessibility and quality of government services. It evaluates services for both individuals and businesses through online portals and smart applications. At least 17 countries are included in the index annually. Each country is assessed on the maturity of 84 priority government services.

Improvement in service delivery

Saudi Arabia’s exceptional performance in the index is evident across three key sub-indicators. In terms of service availability and sophistication, the Kingdom earned a maturity rate of 98 percent. This reflects a 1 percent increase from the previous year. Under the service usage and satisfaction category, Saudi Arabia achieved a maturity rate of 84 percent. This represents a significant improvement of 4.76 percent compared to 2022. Additionally, it achieved a perfect score of 100 percent under the public outreach indicator, demonstrating a remarkable 13.52 percent increase from the previous year.

Read: Cisco: Over 90 percent of organizations in Saudi Arabia have an AI strategy in place or under development

Digital transformation

This achievement in enhancing e-government services is attributed to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing digital transformation efforts. Through strategic investments in digital infrastructure and technological innovation, Saudi Arabia has successfully enhanced the efficiency, accessibility, and transparency of government services. This recognition by ESCWA underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve the lives of its citizens and enhance the business environment.

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