Riyadh — Saudi Arabia is moving rapidly to consolidate its fragmented government platforms into a unified ecosystem, with 267 platforms already merged, according to a new KPMG Middle East report titled “From Citizen Experience to Empowerment.” The initiative is part of the Kingdom’s Digital Government Strategy 2023–2030, which seeks to reduce more than 800 separate platforms into a streamlined, citizen-centric system aligned with Vision 2030.
Progress and Strategic Advantages
The Kingdom’s transformation is backed by strong political will, advanced digital infrastructure, and a digitally native population. Platforms like Absher (supporting 28 million users with over 500 services) and Tawakkalna (initially a health app, now hosting 600+ government services) already showcase Saudi Arabia’s digital capacity.
In July, the Digital Government Authority (DGA) reported the closure and integration of 267 platforms, with the Digital Experience Maturity Index reaching 86.71% (“Advanced”) after evaluating 50 platforms across 20 themes.
Tackling Challenges of Fragmentation
Despite achievements, KPMG highlighted persistent issues of service duplication and inconsistent user experiences. To address this, the Whole-of-Government Program, launched in 2022, has reduced platforms from 817 at inception to 550 by mid-2025, with a focus on unifying service design, governance, and shared IT resources.
The report recommends establishing a National CIO Council to enforce compliance, standardize APIs for data interoperability, and accelerate integration.
Technology Enablers and Vision
Saudi Arabia’s digital unification roadmap includes:
- AI-driven personalization for tailored services.
- Blockchain for secure identity verification and transparent records.
- IoT to improve real-time service responsiveness.
- National digital identity enabling secure single sign-on.
Accessibility is a core pillar, ensuring services are available in multiple languages, adapted for citizens, expatriates, domestic workers, and visitors, and usable regardless of digital literacy.
Workforce and Governance Shift
To deliver on this transformation, public sector employees will undergo training in AI, cybersecurity, customer experience, and service design, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Future governance models will use predictive analytics and AI to deliver services proactively, even before requests are made.
Global Standing
Saudi Arabia’s progress is already being recognized globally. The Kingdom rose 25 places in the UN E-Government Development Index and now ranks 4th globally in the Digital Services Index.
KPMG concludes that through phased integration, Saudi Arabia is on track to set a global benchmark in next-generation digital governance, fully aligned with Vision 2030’s ambition to be among the world’s top 10 digital governments.
