RIYADH: Saudi Arabia ranked first for the third successive year among countries in the Middle East and North Africa region in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index.
The index, published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, measures the maturity of government services provided through electronic applications and portals.
Saudi Arabia ranked first in the 2024 index, outperforming 16 other countries and achieving a maturity rate of 96 percent in delivering digital government services, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, the governor of the Digital Government Authority, praised the achievement on Monday, saying it was the result of collaboration among government agencies, the use of technologies and artificial intelligence, and the introduction of digital products to deliver government services.
The Kingdom ranked fourth in the index in 2020 and second in 2021 before taking the top spot in 2022 and 2023. Alsuwaiyan noted that the progress was due to significant improvements in digital services across essential sectors, including health, education, and smart cities.
Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in the healthcare sector by offering citizens and residents digital prescriptions, appointment bookings, and telehealth services, while remote learning platforms and electronic university admissions have been established in the education sector.
