Saudi Arabia is not merely buying into new technologies. The kingdom is fundamentally changing its economy and society to fit these technologies. By implementing futuristic digital tools and strategies through a national plan called Saudi digital transformation, the country is going beyond oil to revitalize the economy, improve the public services and establish a technology ecosystem that is at the forefront of the region. The changes have made the country a center of attention worldwide when it comes to tech trends in Saudi Arabia whereas MENA digital platforms are fast becoming the core of the innovation in the Middle East and North Africa.
Vision 2030: The Foundation of the Saudi Digital Transformation Strategy
Saudi Arabia’s move to the digital world essentially revolves around a program called Vision 2030, which is a government-launched comprehensive reform plan aimed at modernizing and diversifying the economy. The Saudi digital transformation is at the core of the agenda. The plan very clearly lays out the extremely ambitious goals in the areas of technology, digital infrastructure, and data-driven governance for the kingdom to become a knowledge-based economy.
Vision 2030 uses technology to transform practically every industry such as healthcare, education, logistics, and finance. Collaborations between the government and businesses as well as policy initiatives have helped create the necessary conditions for extensive digital adoption. Consequently, the Saudi digital economy is already worth an estimated SAR 495 billion (approximately USD 131 billion) and makes up about 15 percent of the country’s GDP.
