Digital Inclusion

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committed to ensuring that all citizens and residents have easy and affordable access to the Internet, in addition to making digital government services available to them, and enhancing their effective participation in public consultations and decision-making processes. In this context, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has implemented a wide range of programs and initiatives aimed at providing digital government services, facilitating access to them, and enabling citizens to benefit from them effectively. Plans have also been developed to eradicate digital illiteracy and build technical skills, to ensure that all segments of society, including women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, low-income families, and refugees, have equal access to digital development.

These efforts are overseen by an integrated system of government and technical entities, each of which plays a pivotal role in achieving digital empowerment and inclusion.

Digital Governance Authority

It leads the efforts to organize and enable digital transformation in the government sector, by setting regulatory frameworks, adopting digital policies and standards, ensuring the quality of electronic services, and promoting technical innovation to improve the user experience.

Digital Inclusion is a key element in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s journey towards achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, as it represents an important aspect of national development plans. The third axis of the vision, “An Ambitious Nation,” supports digital transformation as a key factor in improving quality of life and promoting fair and comprehensive access to digital services, with a focus on empowering the neediest groups to ensure that no one is left behind.    

National Transformation Program

In the framework of implementing Saudi Vision 2030, the National Transformation Program develops a set of strategic objectives that contribute to accelerating the pace of digital integration and enhancing the use of technical services, the most prominent of which are:

• Promoting the values of justice and transparency: by ensuring that all individuals have access to digital services fairly and equally, while enhancing transparency in digital processes.
• Improving the quality of services provided to citizens: by developing digital infrastructure and improving the efficiency of electronic platforms to ensure a smooth and fast experience.
• Developing e-government: by expanding the scope of digital government services and achieving integration between different systems to enhance operational efficiency.
• Supporting communication channels with citizens and the business sector: by developing interactive platforms that facilitate communication between the government and society, which enhances effective digital participation.

- For more information about the National Transformation Program document, click here.

Empowerment and Inclusion within the National Transformation Program    

The National Transformation Program works to enhance digital inclusion and enable individuals to benefit from modern technologies, through qualitative initiatives that contribute to developing the digital infrastructure, expanding access to services, and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. The most prominent of these initiatives are:

• Investing in the development of advanced telecommunications networks, including (5G) technologies, to ensure high-speed connectivity covering all areas, including remote areas, enhancing digital access for all members of society.
• Launching innovative digital platforms such as “Absher” and “Tawakkalna”, which allow citizens and residents to benefit from government services easily and efficiently, contributing to accelerating digital transformation and improving the efficiency of government operations.
• Implementing specialized training programs and workshops to enhance the digital skills of government employees, in addition to appointing digital leaders in ministries and agencies to oversee the implementation of digital transformation strategies and ensure the effective achievement of their objectives.
• Developing comprehensive educational initiatives targeting groups with limited digital skills, such as the elderly and people with disabilities, through specialized training programs that provide them with basic digital skills, which would contribute to enhancing their integration into the digital community.
• Supporting entrepreneurs in the technology sector by establishing incubators and business accelerators that provide an integrated environment that contributes to empowering start-ups, through funding and strategic guidance to enhance innovation and digital entrepreneurship.
• Developing advanced electronic platforms that enable citizens to participate effectively in decision-making processes, which enhances transparency in government procedures, and supports the building of a more interactive and empowering digital community.

(2023-2030) Digital Governance Strategy

Through its digital government strategy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is adopting an ambitious approach to achieve a comprehensive digital transformation based on Saudi Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy aims to provide advanced and effective digital government services that contribute to improving the quality of life and enhancing government performance, while working to achieve an advanced ranking among the top ten countries in the world in digital government by 2030.

This strategy is based on six pillars that support the achievement of effective digital transformation:

• Citizen satisfaction
• Business empowerment
• Effective government
• Effective investment
• Regulatory system
• Accelerating digital transformation.

Through these strategies, the Kingdom continues to build an integrated digital future that enhances innovation, supports digital inclusion, and makes technology a key tool for improving the quality of life and achieving sustainable development.

Connectivity

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making significant progress in developing its digital infrastructure, enhancing digital inclusion and enabling access to internet and telecommunications services for all. Thanks to these efforts, the Kingdom ranked second globally among G20 countries in the United Nations Telecommunications Infrastructure Index.

Network Coverage and Digital Connectivity

• 100% of the population has mobile network coverage.
• 99% of the population has at least 3G mobile network coverage.
• 94% of the population has at least 4G mobile network coverage.

Internet Usage in the Kingdom

• 99% of the population uses the Internet, reflecting the Kingdom’s rapid digital transformation.
• 99% of households have access to the Internet at home.
• The average mobile internet data consumption per person is 44 GB per month.

Mobile Phone Ownership

• 97% of individuals (citizens and residents) own a mobile phone.
• 95% of women own a mobile phone.
• 98% of men own a mobile phone.

Fixed and Mobile Broadband Subscriptions

• 117% active mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 people.
• 20% fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people.

The Kingdom’s Readiness for 5G Networks

5G networks play a major role in digitizing the Saudi economy, as:

• The Kingdom ranks seventh in the world in mobile internet speeds, averaging 109.48 Mbps.
• The Kingdom ranks fourth in the world in 5G internet speeds, averaging 264.7 Mbps.
• Users in the Kingdom recorded the fastest 5G download speed in the world, reaching 862.6 Mbps, surpassing South Korea by 11%.
• By 2020, 12,302 5G towers had been installed. Expansion is expected to continue as demand for the internet increases and spectrum allocation increases.

These statistics reflect the significant progress that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made in the field of digital empowerment and inclusiveness, as the government continues to enhance infrastructure, reduce internet costs, and provide digital services to all, contributing to achieving Saudi Vision 2030 towards a thriving and sustainable digital economy.

Digital Services Accessibility 

The Kingdom is keen to provide its digital services to all citizens, residents and visitors around the clock, as all government portals comply with the "WCAG 2.0 AAA" standards to ensure ease of use and accessibility for people with disabilities and different groups.

WCAG 2.0 AAA

A set of global standards that aim to improve accessibility to web content, with a focus on enabling people with disabilities to use websites efficiently and easily. These standards are based on three levels:

• A: Minimum compliance to ensure basic accessibility.
• AA: Advanced level enhances user experience and is the most common globally.
• AAA: The highest level of compliance, providing the best accessibility experience for people of all categories, including those with disabilities.

WCAG 2.0 standards are based on four main principles to ensure an integrated user experience:

• Perceivable: Providing content that can be easily understood, by supporting alternative text for images, high visual contrast, and text-to-speech content.
• Operability: Ensuring that all users can interact with content easily, including keyboard navigation and the absence of elements that may hinder access.
• Understandability: Providing clear and simple content, with support for easy-to-interpret languages and mechanisms to help understand technical terms.
• Technical sustainability: Ensuring that content is compatible with all current and future technologies, including digital assistance tools and screen readers.

- For more information, click here.

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

It is responsible for developing digital infrastructure, expanding connectivity, and promoting digital transformation at the national level, in addition to leading initiatives such as “Digital Vision” that aim to enable individuals and businesses to benefit from modern technologies and enhance digital skills.

Communications and Space Technology Commission

It works to regulate the communications and space technology sector, ensure the provision of high-speed internet throughout the Kingdom, and improve the user experience, with a focus on reducing the digital divide, especially in remote and deprived areas.

Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority

It leads efforts to employ big data and artificial intelligence to support digital transformation, improve the efficiency of government services, and develop innovative solutions that enhance digital inclusion, such as the “Nafath” Platform and the unified digital identity.

General Authority for Statistics

It provides the necessary statistical data and analysis to measure the extent of achieving digital inclusion, which helps guide policies and make data-based decisions to enhance digital transformation and ensure access to services for all groups.

Reducing Internet Costs and Enhancing Digital Inclusion

In order to ensure everyone has access to the internet without barriers or obstacles, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched several initiatives, including:    

• Free access to government service applications, including the Ministry of Health portal.
• Free access to distance learning platforms, such as the Unified Education System and the “Ain” portal.
• Providing more than 60,000 free Wi-Fi points in public places in partnership with Internet service providers.
• Through these efforts, the Kingdom continues its leadership in digital transformation, ensuring an integrated environment that supports innovation, enhances the digital economy, and improves the quality of life for all members of society.

Rural areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia receive great attention within the government's efforts to promote digital inclusion, within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the digital gap between urban and rural areas by expanding digital infrastructure, as mobile phone network coverage extends to all residents, while 4G services reach most rural areas, with the continued deployment of 5G networks to ensure high internet speeds and improve communication quality.

As part of these efforts, the government has launched a number of initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of life and providing better livelihoods, the most prominent of which are:

• Developing Communications Infrastructure: Communication networks have been expanded to include rural and remote areas, ensuring the provision of high-speed internet services to residents of these areas.
• Establishing Digital Service Centers: Kiosks and service centers have been updated and developed in areas where internet connectivity is slow, in order to support citizens who do not have access to the internet or are not proficient in dealing with technology.
• Training Programs: Providing training programs for citizens and companies in rural areas on the use of smart government services, reducing the digital gap and ensuring that everyone has the required skills.
• Connecting Schools to Educational Institutions: A national project has been implemented to connect more than 3,000 remote schools that are not connected to the internet, using satellite stations and advanced communication technologies, enhancing digital communication capabilities in more than 19,000 schools across all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, the Kingdom has launched initiatives such as “Digital Giving” that aim to spread digital awareness and digital literacy across Saudi Arabia, including rural areas.

Accessibility standards for all government portals and mobile applications

All Government Entities and service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are required, under the approved legal regulations and laws, to implement the WCAG 2.0 AAA digital accessibility standards to ensure ease of use and enable all individuals to access digital services, especially people with disabilities. These standards include providing options to adjust font sizes to suit the needs of the visually impaired, ensuring color contrast to meet the requirements of people with color blindness, and providing alternative texts for images and illustrations. The standards also focus on identifying the optimal accessibility tools for people with disabilities, such as screen readers, text-to-speech programs, and translation of content into Braille. These initiatives aim to enhance digital accessibility and ensure equal access to digital government services.

• For more information about the Disability Rights Law, click here.
• For more information about the Digital Government Authority, click here.

Absher Portal

It is one of the most prominent digital initiatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, providing an integrated system of electronic government services for citizens and residents. The portal was designed according to the highest standards of digital accessibility, ensuring a smooth and effective user experience for all groups, including people with disabilities, by providing an accessible technical environment that allows them to benefit from services easily and independently.

The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attaches top priority to eradicating digital illiteracy and building digital skills, recognizing their pivotal role in enhancing digital competitiveness and technological inclusiveness. Through the programs and initiatives it has provided and continues to provide, the Kingdom has succeeded in consolidating its position among the top ten countries in the world in digital skills, according to the Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum for 2020. It also won the International Telecommunication Union Award for its pioneering program in empowering women in the field of technology, reflecting its ongoing commitment to developing digital capabilities and enabling all segments of society to keep pace with the global digital transformation.

Digital Skills Framework: It is an approved national framework developed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to identify and classify the digital skills required in the labor market, based on the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), a global standard used to describe professional skills in the fields of information and communications technology (ICT). The framework aims to enable individuals and institutions to develop digital capabilities, and enhance the alignment between acquired skills and the needs of the digital economy.

Future Skills

It is a national program under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. It aims to qualify and empower national cadres with advanced digital skills, to ensure their suitability with the requirements of the labor market and support sustainable growth in the communications and information technology sector.

Program Objectives

• Bridging the gap between education outcomes and labor market needs in the field of communications and technology.
• Raising the level of digital skills among graduates and workers.
• Supporting digital transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by preparing qualified personnel and cadres in modern technologies.
• Empowering women and vulnerable groups in the fields of technology and innovation.

- For more information about the program, click here.

Women Empowerment

It is one of the initiatives launched by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to enhancing women's participation in the communications and information technology sector, enabling them to acquire advanced digital skills, and qualifying them to occupy leadership roles in the technical field.

Program Objectives

• Increase women's participation in the technology sector and enhance their role in digital transformation.
• Provide specialized training programs for women in various technical fields.
• Support and qualify women leaders in the communications and information technology sector.
• Create job opportunities and empower women to lead businesses in the digital field.

Digital Giving Initiative

It is a non-profit initiative launched in 2018 under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, aiming to enhance digital awareness among all segments of society. The initiative seeks to enable specialists to disseminate digital knowledge and contribute to enriching Arabic technical content, in addition to supporting and developing local technical communities.

Statistics

- For more information about the training courses, click here.

Thinkteach Initiative

It is an innovative initiative under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, aiming to anticipate the future and enhance digital awareness of emerging technologies, which contributes to building a stimulating and supportive digital environment for innovation.

MiSK Foundation

It is a non-profit organization established in 2011 by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, with the aim of empowering Saudi youth and enhancing their leadership and cognitive capabilities, thus achieving an effective contribution to building a sustainable future for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The foundation is committed to supporting and developing national talents by providing an incubator environment for creativity and innovation, with a focus on two main axes: education and entrepreneurship, in addition to science and technology as a supportive field to enhance youth competitiveness.

The Misk Foundation provides an integrated system of strategic programs and tracks to empower Saudi youth, through developing skills, qualifying leaders, supporting entrepreneurship, and enhancing community participation. These initiatives are distributed across four main tracks designed to achieve a sustainable impact:

• Misk Leaders
• Misk Entrepreneurship
• Misk Community
• Misk Skills

Tuwaiq Academy

Tuwaiq Academy was established in August 2019 under the supervision of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, to become a leading center for developing technical skills and enhancing national competencies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The academy seeks to empower local talent by providing intensive training programs in programming, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and electronic game development, targeting different age groups and professional levels.

Center of Digital Entrepreneurship

It is a pioneering educational initiative that aims to empower Saudi youth to acquire advanced technical skills in programming. The center offers specialized training programs in modern programming technologies such as application development, artificial intelligence, and data analysis, which enhances the capabilities of participants and qualifies them to enter the digital labor market. This is done through interactive workshops and training courses that aim to enhance innovation and develop digital entrepreneurship skills.

King Abdullah Public Education Development Program (Tatweer): It is an initiative launched by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2007. It aims to develop the public education system in the Kingdom by improving curricula, qualifying teachers, enhancing the learning environment, and introducing modern technology into the educational process.

Project Objectives

• Improving the quality of education through developing curricula and teaching methods.
• Training and qualifying teachers to ensure high efficiency in educational performance.
• Introducing technology into education through initiatives such as e-learning and smart classes.

Enhancing extracurricular activities to develop students' intellectual and social skills

Digital inclusion is essential for delivering government services through various channels that ensure efficiency, speed and reliability, while providing a personalized and smart user experience that efficiently meets the needs of individuals. 

- For more information about e-services for Government Agencies, click here.

As part of our commitment to promoting digital inclusion, we are committed to enabling users to fully and effectively benefit from e-government services, ensuring a smooth experience and high efficiency that keeps pace with the aspirations of the digital future.

- For more information, click here.

• Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
• Digital Transformation | Digital Government Authority
• Communications, Space and Technology Commission
• Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority