Saudi Arabia will lead the world in communications, space, and technology by 2025
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continued its exceptional journey in strengthening its international standing, solidifying its leadership in the fields of communications, space, and technology , based on an ambitious vision and a digital infrastructure that is among the most advanced in the world. This achievement was not a sudden occurrence, but rather the culmination of cumulative strategic efforts aligned with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and build a fully integrated digital society.
Global leadership and record-breaking performance indicators
In a clear indication of the maturity of the Saudi experience, the Kingdom achieved first place globally in the 2025 ICT Development Index (IDI) issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It also secured second place globally in the Digital Regulatory Maturity Index and second place among G20 countries in the development of sector regulations. These figures reflect the efficiency of the regulatory environment overseen by the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), which has successfully positioned the Kingdom at the "leading" level in global rankings.
The Saudi presence was not limited to numbers and indicators, but extended to include direct international influence through Riyadh’s hosting of the Global Symposium for Regulators of Telecommunications (GSR25), which witnessed the participation of more than 190 countries and the attendance of more than 6,500 specialists, turning the Saudi capital into a hub for global digital decision-making.
Significant leaps forward in the space economy and future technologies
In the space sector, a cornerstone of the future economy, the Kingdom reinforced its leadership by launching the global SpaceUp competition in partnership with the Saudi Space Agency. This initiative successfully attracted 690 entries from 50 countries, resulting in contractual opportunities worth $28 million, underscoring the attractiveness of the Saudi market for space innovations. Concurrently, the Earth Observation (EO) Space Platform was launched as the first national marketplace for space data, a strategic step to enable vital sectors to benefit from accurate data.
Regarding telecommunications infrastructure, the Kingdom achieved a regional first by successfully conducting the first trial of 6G technology in the Middle East and North Africa on the 7 GHz frequency band, in partnership with stc and Nokia. This achievement positions the Kingdom at the forefront of countries prepared to adopt the next generation of communications, thus enhancing its economic competitiveness.
Economic growth and digital sustainability
Data indicates that the telecommunications and technology market in the Kingdom is the largest and fastest growing in the region, with its size expected to reach 190 billion riyals by the end of 2025, representing a growth rate of 5%. This boom has been accompanied by significant investment activity, exemplified by the issuance of new investment licenses exceeding one billion riyals to major companies such as WTCO and SAR.
In conclusion, the Kingdom has not neglected sustainability, leading international efforts to manage electronic waste and achieving remarkable success with its "Recycle Your Device" initiative, which collected over 100,000 devices. This comprehensive set of achievements confirms that the Kingdom is not merely keeping pace with technological advancements, but rather creating and leading them, thus shaping a prosperous digital future for the region and the world.
