RIYADH: The rate of legalization of articles of association across the Kingdom increased by 8 percent during the last six months following the introduction of a new digital application system, rising from 4,824 to 5,198. According to the Business Intelligence Platform at the Ministry of Justice, Riyadh topped the list for most approved applications with 3,511 articles of association granted, followed by Makkah (597), the Eastern Province (550), Madinah (363) and Qassim (74). Another 36 were legalized in Assir, with the remaining 58 split across Najran, Hail, Tabuk, Jizan, Al-Baha and the Northern Borders. The ministry launched its electronic authentication service last year in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, to allow customers to have contracts approved more quickly. The ministry is improving its digital services so that there is more integration with other government departments and state institutions, as part of the legal sector’s efforts to build a well-connected infrastructure across the country. It signed an agreement with the Saudi Industrial Development Fund to create digital integration for the exchange of data and online services. It has also set up digital integration with the Labor Ministry in order to organize labor court operations and ease procedures. “Currently the ministry has successfully connected with around 30 government entities and bodies,” said the ministry. “This integration is helping legal entities run their operations smoothly, exchanging and retrieving the necessary data from relevant government bodies in order to enhance legal procedures and provide efficient services to ministry clients.” It has also established channels with commercial and trade entities in order to help and support commercial courts. “The ministry wants to help businessmen and investors who seek legal services to be able to reach and obtain these services with ease and save them time and trips. Due to this connectivity and partnerships, many clients are able to find those services online without having to visit various government departments, including courts and notaries.” The ministry has also explored partnerships to help achieve its personnel development objectives. It recently signed a deal to train legal staff. “We are constantly looking for opportunities to develop our staff and enhance their performance.”