The late King Abdulaziz - may Allah bless his soul - realized the importance of post and telecommunications and the necessity of using modern inventions in this sector to link the vast and remote areas of the Kingdom with each other. Accordingly, he issued a royal decree in 1345H (1926) for the establishment of the post, telegraphs and telephones (PTT) Directorate, affiliated to the office of the Deputy King, under the umbrella of the Kingdom’s internal affairs. Since then, the Saudi government has provided its support and paid special attention to this sector and its services.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long been dependent on oil for economic growth and social development, but the world economy is changing: a fourth industrial revolution is underway. Data is the new oil, and technology is the engine driving the knowledge economy of the 21st century. That is why the digital transformation of the Kingdom lies at the heart of Vision 2030. It will fuel their growth and development into the future and empower the people of Saudi Arabia to seize the opportunities of the digital age.
However, a digital Saudi Arabia cannot be delivered by government alone. It has to be done through collaboration with the private sector, young people and new entrepreneurs. The MCIT will lay the foundation for digital transformation and create the conditions to make it possible. They will also call upon the collective effort, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the Saudi people to make it happen. That is why their approach is underpinned by one, clear principle: putting citizens, innovators and job creators first.
Each pillar of Vision 2030 depends on the coming digital transformation. A thriving economy means a digital economy. Investing heavily in skills, ensuring the people of the Kingdom develop the knowhow to create and innovate. Making technology available to small and medium sized companies. Creating a diverse e-commerce environment that provides high grade platforms for major retailers and the growth of new and creative enterprises. Developing new industries encompassing robotics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. And creating the largest innovation incubator in the Arabic world, and a country at the cutting edge of research and development.
A vibrant society means a digital society. Smart cities that control traffic and manage energy supply, enhancing quality of life. New forms of entertainment, delivered through digital platforms. e-Health initiatives, making disease prevention the priority and providing more frequent access to doctors and nurses. Virtual classrooms, connecting young Saudis with the best educators, offering a step-change in the quality of education to harness the immense potential of the Saudi people.
An ambitious nation means a digital nation. Expanding e-government to deliver public services more effectively. Giving citizens the opportunity to engage government constructively, crowdsourcing the ideas and generating the feedback that will help shape the future of the Kingdom. And creating a culture of digital volunteerism, allowing people to give back by leveraging new technology and platforms.
But a digital economy, society and nation can only be built on a strong digital foundation. That is why the cornerstone of their plan is the digital infrastructure and regulatory environment that will make a digital transformation possible, such as:
To ensure the foundation is strong enough to support the digital transformation that will drive Vision 2030 forward.
