Oman has seen an improvement in its ranking on the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMS), scoring 72%, up from 66% in 2023, according to a report released by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
The report evaluates the digital government performance of 17 Arab countries across three main pillars: service availability and development, service uptake and satisfaction, and government outreach and engagement. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates lead the index with scores of 96% and 95%, respectively, showcasing their strong strides in digital transformation.
Oman has made notable progress across these pillars. Its score for service availability and development rose to 80%, from 76.64% last year. Service uptake and satisfaction also improved, reaching 63% from 51.95% in 2023, while government outreach and engagement saw an increase to 78%, up from 73.78%.
Further improvements were seen in Oman’s digital platforms. Service development for electronic portals surged to 94%, compared to 84.45% in 2023. User satisfaction with these portals also grew to 89%, up from 76.44%. Mobile app availability increased to 60%, from 49.97% last year, while satisfaction with mobile platforms rose to 62%, up from 47.76%.
Despite these advancements, Nawar al Awa, ESCWA’s GEMS project lead, highlighted a widening digital divide. The gap between countries with advanced digital infrastructure and those in the early stages of development has increased from 91% in 2023 to 95% in 2024, driven by resource disparities and the challenges of adopting emerging technologies.
