Saudi Arabia Showcases Digital Leadership at WSIS 2025
Saudi Arabia's delegation was led by Vice Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Acting Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Haytham AlOhali. Addressing officials and digital experts from 194 countries, AlOhali shared the Kingdom's success in advancing ITU's strategic objectives and presented key indicators reflecting its global digital achievements.
Leading in Global Digital Rankings
AlOhali highlighted that Saudi Arabia ranked first globally on the ITU's ICT Development Index, underscoring the country's rapid progress in the ICT sector. He also noted that the Kingdom secured sixth place globally in the 2024 United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI), reflecting its leadership in delivering digital government services. Digital Economy Growth, Infrastructure Investment
The Vice Minister emphasized the strength of Saudi Arabia's digital infrastructure, noting that the Kingdom's digital economy reached $132 billion in 2024—accounting for 15% of GDP and representing half of the region's total digital economy. He also discussed the nation's early investment efforts, which began in 2018 with over $25 billion channeled into digital infrastructure through public-private partnerships. These efforts helped position the Kingdom at the top of the 2025 ICT Development Index.
Commitment to AI, Pro-Innovation Policies
During the AI for Good Global Summit, AlOhali participated in the session titled 'Crafting a Well-Balanced, Pro-Innovation Regulatory Framework.' He stressed that building a sustainable AI ecosystem requires robust investment in human capital, infrastructure, and the establishment of clear standards.
He revealed that Saudi Arabia now boasts the largest technical workforce in the region, with more than 381,000 specialists in 2024—an 8.8% annual growth from 350,000 in 2023.
Strategic Partnerships in AI, Emerging Technologies
To accelerate AI adoption, Saudi Arabia is expanding its partnerships with leading global tech firms such as AMD, AWS, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA. A major milestone includes a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA to develop a 500MW data center, a key enabler of large-scale AI applications.
Additionally, the Kingdom launched 'Humain,' a new initiative aimed at creating a regional and global AI powerhouse, backed by advanced infrastructure and cloud computing capabilities. These developments reflect Saudi Arabia's determination to position itself as a global center for sustainable innovation in AI and digital technologies.
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