Saudi Arabia Ranks First Globally in the 2025 ICT Development Index issued by ITU

Saudi Arabia has achieved the first global ranking in the 2025 ICT Development Index issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which monitors the digital progress and development of telecom and technology services across 164 countries.

The index is based on several sub-indicators divided into two key dimensions: universal and effective connectivity.

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) highlighted that this achievement reflects the Kingdom’s steady efforts toward sustainable development in the ICT sector and its ongoing initiatives to strengthen infrastructure and competitiveness.

CST also noted that Saudi Arabia’s advanced digital infrastructure plays a crucial role in driving digital economic growth, attracting investments, and increasing GDP contributions.

By 2024, the digital economy in Saudi Arabia reached 495B SAR, contributing for 15% to the GDP.

The Kingdom also hosts the largest and fastest-growing ICT market in the MENAR region, with a market size of 180B SAR in 2024.

Mobile service subscriptions reached 212% of the population, and individual monthly data usage exceeded the global average by three times.

The ICT Development Index is a global benchmark developed by the ITU to assess digital readiness and infrastructure strength.

It provides a comprehensive and transparent framework that supports data-driven policy decisions, based on ten sub-indicators grouped under inclusive and effective connectivity.