ICT & AI

Saudi Arabia’s ICT sector, the largest in the MENA region, is valued at $44bn and contributes 4% to GDP. The sector’s growth is driven by digital transformation across government and industries. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom aims for a 19.2% digital economy contribution by 2025. Key initiatives include the Saudi Cloud Strategy and the Cloud Computing Special Economic Zone, supporting sectors like finance, government and education. Saudi Arabia leads the region in digital maturity, with continued efforts to upskill 100,000 graduates through the Fuel programme. The ICT sector shows strong growth potential, with robust infrastructure, regulations and investment driving future expansion. This chapter also contains an interview with Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organisation; Yaser Al Onaizan, CEO, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence; Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO, National Technology Development Programme; and Salman Al Badran, CEO, Mobily.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Innovation ecosystem: Comprehensive government framework is driving digital agenda, with initiatives to boost the sector’s contribution to GDP
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Saudi Arabia’s ICT sector is the largest in the MENA region, with a total value of SR166bn ($44bn) and contributing approximately 4% to the Kingdom’s GDP. Growth is propelled by the widespread digital transformation taking place across government, industry and society. Moreover, the Kingdom is striving to position itself as a regional centre for ICT and draw investors by strengthening data protection regulations, enabling infrastructure cluster development, nurturing domestic skills and attracting…

Interview

Key connections: Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), on realising digital inclusion through cross-border collaboration and entrepreneurship
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Interview: Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organisation How does multilateral cooperation address the digital divide between and within countries? DEEMAH AL YAHYA: An estimated 2.6bn people around the world still lack internet access. This gap restricts opportunities and economic growth, with the IMF estimating that a 10% increase in digital penetration could boost per capita GDP by up to 4%. Establishing global standards for cross-border trade, data flows and communication…

Analysis

Tech transformation: Burgeoning generative AI applications promise substantial economic gains across a wide range of sectors
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Saudi Arabia identified the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) early on, recognising its potential to drive economic diversification, enhance efficiency across sectors and position the Kingdom as a global leader in cutting-edge technology. In 2020 under the directive of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the government introduced a comprehensive national strategy for data and AI, signalling a high-level commitment to harnessing these advanced technologies for national growth. Strategic…

Interview

Future focused: Yaser Al Onaizan, CEO, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence, on creating a supportive ecosystem for innovation
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Interview: Yaser Al Onaizan, CEO, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence In what ways can artificial intelligence (AI) and big data contribute to the objectives of Vision 2030? YASER AL ONAIZAN: Both AI and big data are central pillars of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation. AI is critical to enhancing service delivery, particularly in health care and education. For example, AI can facilitate early detection of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, helping to ensure timely intervention…

Interview

Innovative push: Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO, National Technology Development Programme (NTDP), on how private sector collaboration drives technological development and contributes to economic growth
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Interview: Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO, National Technology Development Programme How does the development of the innovation ecosystem within the ICT sector contribute to the economic transformation outlined in Vision 2030? IBRAHIM NEYAZ: The innovation ecosystem within the ICT sector is essential to achieving the goals outlined in Vision 2030. This sector is a cornerstone for the country’s economic transformation, driving diversification and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. ICT is deeply integrated…

Analysis

Heightened concern: Governments work to counter a global rise in cyberthreats stemming from digitalisation and the shift to remote work
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The conflict in Ukraine has caused disruption across the global economy, prompting an increase in the number and sophistication of cyberattacks. According to a poll of 800 chief audit executives conducted by the UK-based Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, 77% of respondents thought the conflict in Ukraine had elevated cybersecurity and data-security risks. Senior cybersecurity analysts have said the conflict in Ukraine has been accompanied by sustained cybercrime, with a large number of cyberattacks…

Interview

Digital drive: Salman Al Badran, CEO, Mobily, on leveraging 5G, advanced solutions and strategic investment to transform key sectors
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Interview: Salman Al Badran, CEO, Mobily How will 5G deployment in Saudi Arabia drive digital transformation in key non-oil sectors, and what strategies will accelerate its rollout? SALMAN AL BADRAN: The deployment of 5G in Saudi Arabia will drive digital transformation across key non-oil sectors like health care, education and manufacturing. In health care, 5G will improve access and efficiency by enabling telemedicine, remote patient monitoring and real-time data sharing, with projected productivity…