Saudi Arabia stood out as the largest digital economy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), having made significant strides in artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, digital government, and human capital development, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
As per aa report by World Telecom and Information Society, Saudi Arabia’s digital economy is valued at over SR495 billion OR $131 Billion, representing 15% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
The telecommunications and information technology market registered record growth of more than SR180 billion or $47 billion in 2024, driven by increased private sector investment and heightened innovation, further reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as the largest technology market in the Middle East.
This reflects a significant shift in the national economic landscape and highlights the Kingdom’s success in accelerating income diversification through a smart economy.
In its pursuit of transitioning to the smart era, the Kingdom has invested over SR55 billion or $14 billion in AI technologies and data centers, establishing itself as a regional hub for future industries. Earlier this year during LEAP Summit KSA attracted $22.4 billion in AI and datacenter investments.
By empowering digital human capabilities, Saudi Arabia has boosted its regional prominence as a major hub for digital talent, generating over 381,000 quality jobs in the technology sector.
In the field of digital governance, Saudi Arabia has made exceptional progress in United Nations indicators, ranking sixth globally in the E-Government Development Index. It also ranked fourth globally in the Digital Services Index, second among G20 countries, and first in the region. In sub-indicators, the Kingdom ranked first globally in digital skills and open digital government, and seventh worldwide in the E-Participation Index.
