Saudi digital economy grows to SAR 522 billion, telecoms minister says
Abdullah Al-Swaha says Saudi Arabia is now a technology exporter as digital jobs rise and complaints fall.
Key Takeaways
AIMinister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha announced that Saudi Arabia's digital economy has grown significantly, rising from less than 300 billion riyals to 522 billion riyals (SAR), an increase of more than 75 percent. He made the remarks during a government press conference organized by the Ministry of Media.
Al-Swaha noted that the number of jobs in the digital sector has reached 410,000, emphasizing that the Kingdom is now a technology exporter, not just an importer.
Technological advances and strategic investments
The minister highlighted that there are more than 80 technology schools across the Kingdom. He said Saudi Arabia is making major investments in data centers and expanding the use of fiber optics, which now account for 32 percent of usage.
He added that the Kingdom is employing artificial intelligence in both the public and private sectors, strengthening its global position in digital readiness, where it leads internationally.
Improved services and narrowing the digital gap
Al-Swaha also reported that the number of complaints has dropped to 15 percent, and the service gap has narrowed to 5 percent over the past decade.
He affirmed that Saudi Arabia is now capable of serving one billion customers in its main market, thanks to the rapid developments in the communications and technology sector.