According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Saudi Arabia has clinched the top spot in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index for 2023.
This prestigious ranking marks the Kingdom's consecutive second-year dominance, boasting an impressive maturity score of 93 percent in the overall index.
Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, attributed this international recognition to the concerted efforts of government agencies in spearheading digital transformation. He emphasized the unwavering support from the wise leadership, underscoring its commitment to realizing the objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030. The overarching aim is to foster a digital society and harness new technologies to boost productivity, enhance efficiency, and deliver optimal experiences to all stakeholders.
The Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMS) evaluates 17 countries each year on the level of development of 84 significant government services provided through smart apps and portals. Significant improvements can be shown in every area, highlighting Saudi Arabia's outstanding performance across the board.
In the service availability and sophistication indicator, Saudi Arabia achieved an impressive maturity rate of 98 percent, marking a 1 percent increase from 2022. Similarly, the Kingdom attained a high maturity rate of 84 percent in the Service Usage and Satisfaction indicator, reflecting a notable 4.76 percent improvement from the previous year.
Saudi Arabia's remarkable progress extends to the public outreach indicator, where it secured a perfect score of 100 percent. This significant achievement represents a remarkable advancement from 2022, demonstrating a notable increase of 13.52 percent.
The World Bank's GOVTECH Maturity Index for 2022 gave the Kingdom third place globally, one of many recent accolades for its digital prowess. Additionally, Saudi Arabia received the highest score in history on the United Nations' E-Government Development Index, reaffirming its position as a pioneer in digital innovation.
Furthermore, Riyadh, the capital city, emerged as the fourth-ranked globally in technology utilization and applications, securing a position within the very high rank classification among cities worldwide.
