RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s advancement in electronic government services has secured the Kingdom the top spot in the Middle East and North Africa according to a UN ranking. The 2023 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index issued by the intergovernmental organization’s Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, indicates Saudi Arabia has maintained its lead for the second consecutive year. The index, known as GEMS, annually classifies 17 countries based on the maturity of 84 priority government services through portals and applications, using three sub-indicators. Saudi Arabia achieved distinction in all indicators, experiencing significant development in each. Ahmed Al-Suwaiyan, the governor of the Digital Government Authority, said that this international achievement reflects the outcomes of government agencies’ efforts in digital transformation. He further highlighted the “great support” the digital government ecosystem receives from the wise leadership. Al-Suwaiyan confirmed that this achievement serves to fulfill the goals set by Vision 2030 programs in building a digital society and investing in new technologies. This aims to increase productivity, achieve efficiency, and provide the best experience for all beneficiaries. The overall index reflects a high maturity score of 93 percent, while the “Service Availability and Sophistication” indicator shows an increase to 98 percent, up by 1 percent from 2022. In the “Service Usage and Satisfaction” indicator, the Kingdom achieved an 84 percent maturity rate, reflecting a 4.76 percent increase from 2022. In the “Public Outreach” index, the country made substantial progress, surging by 13.52 percent from 2022 to reach a score of 100 percent. Saudi Arabia recently secured the third global ranking among 198 countries in the 2022 GOVTECH Maturity Index by the World Bank. Additionally, it achieved its highest result in the E-Government Development Index issued by the UN in over 20 years. Riyadh, the capital city, ranked fourth globally in technology use and applications, classified within the “very high range” among 193 cities worldwide.