Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Authority (DGA) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) have signed a letter of intent to establish a UN-affiliated ‘Digital Government Center’ in Riyadh.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (STI) in New York. The Digital Government Center aims to boost international cooperation, sharing expertise, and developing global best practices in digital governance.
DGA Governor Eng. Ahmed bin Mohammed Alsuwaiyan stated that Riyadh’s selection as the headquarters for the proposed Digital Government Center highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing regional and global leadership in digital transformation and its progress in building a human-centric, future-ready digital ecosystem.
He pointed out that the Digital Government Center would mark a major step in advancing digital government practices worldwide by supporting member states, promoting knowledge exchange, and leveraging artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Alsuwaiyan added that the initiative reflects the strong support for digital government under Saudi Vision 2030.
UN-DESA Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination Bjørg Sandkjær commented that the discussions build on the existing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United Nations and pave the way for a long-term partnership focused on strengthening digital government capabilities and public sector innovation.
Image credits: SPA | Cropped by GBN
She added that the proposed Digital Government Center would help bridge the global digital divide by developing frameworks, standards, and best practices to support member states in creating inclusive and sustainable digital strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Digital Government Center builds on Riyadh Declaration
The initiative also builds on the Riyadh Declaration launched during the 19th session of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2024), hosted in Riyadh. The annual UN-organized forum brings together global experts to shape international internet governance policies and priorities.
The planned Digital Government Center is expected to support the declaration’s goals of enhancing international cooperation, expanding digital inclusion through AI technologies, bridging the digital divide, promoting sustainable development, improving quality of life, strengthening environmental protection, and driving global economic growth through responsible innovation and higher productivity.
