RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has expanded 5G access across the Kingdom and is a leader in digital public services, as well as artificial-intelligence adoption, according to a report released on Tuesday.
The findings were revealed in the Digital Cooperation Organization’s Digital Economy Navigator 2025, which was launched at an event in Qatar.
The DCO’s secretary-general, Deemah Al-Yahya, said in a statement: “DEN 2025 is a reminder that our collective progress depends on decisive action.
“We must move from measuring digital transformation to accelerating it, with governments adopting agile and forward-looking policies, businesses investing with purpose and responsibility, and societies embracing innovation as a force for inclusion.”
Abdullah Alswaha, minister of communications and information technology, added that DEN 2025 “marks another milestone in supporting policymakers to design growth strategies.”
This enables nations “to strengthen their digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and governance frameworks for sustainable economic growth.”
DEN 2025, the second edition of the navigator tool, provides comprehensive information on global digital economy maturity, covering 80 countries representing 94 percent of global gross domestic product, and 85 percent of the world’s population.
Drawing on 145 indicators and a survey of more than 41,000 people, it provides evidence-based insight into how nations are developing digital infrastructure, driving innovation, growing business capacity, enhancing governance and promoting inclusion.
“The cost of inaction is exclusion, but the rewards of collaboration are limitless. If we work together across borders, sectors, and communities, we can shape an inclusive, trusted, and sustainable digital future where every nation has the opportunity not only to participate, but to lead,” Al-Yahya stated.
Saudi Arabia also ranks at frontier-level maturity for digital for health and education, social inclusion, and work and training.
The report cites the Kingdom’s achievements in digital health innovation, including the operation of the world’s largest virtual-hospital network connecting more than 224 hospitals, and the expansion of AI-enabled platforms such as Sehhaty and Wasfaty.
The report shows that digitalization is creating opportunities for growth across all income levels. Internet access now reaches more than four in five people in the countries covered.
Countries at all income levels have made progress, and lower-middle-income countries have achieved the greatest number of net improvements — demonstrating that progress is achievable with the right policies and investment.
According to the report, digital transformation has facilitated cross-border trade, with online service portals being fully implemented in 66 of the 80 countries covered by the DEN, and implementation underway in another 10 countries.
“The Digital Cooperation Organization envisions a future where every nation can participate meaningfully in the digital economy, not only as consumers of digital service but as creators and innovators,” Al-Yahya said.
The report estimates that connecting underserved communities could enable more than 1.3 billion more people to access digital banking and online services, unlocking significant social and economic potential.
However, additional efforts are needed to ease restrictions on the trade in Information and Communication Technology goods to enable affordable access to digital devices.
According to the DCO, Al is progressing rapidly but unevenly, with advanced economies consolidating their lead, while regions such as South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa show strong potential for rapid advancement.
Meanwhile, gender participation continues to improve, with global gender equality in digital participation averaging 70.8 percent.
The DCO stressed the need for more investment in digital skills and education, particularly for women, could help close remaining gaps and ensure equitable access to future jobs, as currently only 3.1 percent of female graduates enter ICT fields.
Digital Economy Intelligence chief at the DCO, Alaa Abdulaal, said: “The DEN 2025 represents a major advancement from the first edition, which was released in 2024.
“As the digital economy continues to evolve rapidly so too must the tools used to measure and understand its multifaceted impacts, in a way that can guide policymakers, businesses, and international organizations.
“Tools like the DEN are only as strong as the data that feeds them, and we hope to continue working with like-minded governments and partners to enhance future editions of the navigator.”
