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The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia placed Saudi Arabia at the head of the MENA region in its 2025 Global E-Government Maturity Index, marking the fourth year in a row the kingdom has secured the position. UN ESCWA assigned an overall score of 99 percent to Saudi Arabia, highlighting substantial gains in digital public service delivery. The index analysis drew on data across service infrastructure, accessibility and citizen engagement metrics to determine regional standings. Historical UN ESCWA records confirm the country has led the category without interruption since the index began tracking this benchmark.
Saudi Arabia secured the full 100 percent rating in service availability and development according to the UN ESCWA assessment. The report also recorded a perfect 100 percent for public access to digital government resources throughout the kingdom. Service usage combined with user satisfaction reached 99 percent in the latest figures from the commission.
Riyadh functions as the headquarters for the Global Digital Government Center, a partnership with the United Nations that promotes excellence in digital governance. The center was established to foster collaboration on technology strategies among regional participants. UN ESCWA noted that such institutions help accelerate adoption of best practices identified through indices like the Global E-Government Maturity Index.
The Digital Government Authority oversaw many of the initiatives that contributed to the latest ranking. Authority programs have emphasized integration of artificial intelligence, big data analytics and advanced cybersecurity measures across public sector operations. These efforts have expanded the portfolio of online services available to residents and businesses in recent years.
Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, tied the results to sustained high-level support for technology modernization. “This achievement reflects the unlimited support of the wise leadership and the concerted efforts to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in the field of digital transformation,” Alsuwaiyan said. He added that the outcomes demonstrate tangible improvements in both operational efficiency and citizen satisfaction with government services.
Separate United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs surveys have tracked parallel advances in Saudi Arabia’s global e-government standing over the past decade. The kingdom’s digital initiatives have aligned with broader national transformation objectives that prioritize seamless public service delivery. UN ESCWA expects the momentum from this regional leadership to influence digital policy development across other MENA member states in upcoming evaluation cycles.
