IT and Software Sector in Saudi ArabiaUnleashing Digital Potential in the Heart of the Middle East

Growth of the IT and Software Industry in Saudi

Saudi Arabia's IT and Software industry is in a dynamic, transformative phase driven by government initiatives and the rapid growth of the e-commerce sector.

One of these initiatives is the National Transformation Programme (NTP), a cornerstone of the Vision 2030 agenda. Its primary objective is to digitize all sectors of the economy, from manufacturing and healthcare to BFSI. This digital transformation encompasses a myriad of initiatives, including enhancing broadband connectivity, modernizing the business landscape, integrating government data into the Saudi e-Portal gateway, and refining payment systems.

The revenue from the IT and software industry is projected to reach $1.39 billion by the end of 2023, which is a 1.46% increase from last year. However, in the next five years, the sector is expected to reach a 3.36% yearly growth, which would yield a market volume of $1.64 billion by 2028.

The government’s efforts to support the IT sector include the rapid adoption of e-governance, which then helped the country rank 31st in the UN e-Government Development Index for 2022. Moreover, the Kingdom offers lucrative growth opportunities for foreign IT companies eyeing expansion by streamlining business operations through 6,000 new digital services.

Both public and private sectors have launched multiple initiatives focused on upskilling local IT and software talent, like the collaborative Digital Apprenticeship Program by Banque Saudi Fransi and AstroLabs. These programs aim to boost the influx of technical talent in the sector.

These efforts prove fruitful as Saudi Arabia has attracted major global technology players and international investors for the ICT infrastructure, software development, and tech innovation ecosystem.

Future Outlook

The future of Saudi Arabia's IT and Software sector is promising, and the country is set to become a digital powerhouse in the region. With outstanding support from the government's Vision 2030, the industry is set to achieve new milestones in the coming years, solidifying the Kingdom's position as a global IT hub.

Tech giants such as Amazon have already taken steps towards this future. Beyond that, the local growth of this sector will contribute to the professionalization and growing skillset of local talent. Amazon, for instance, is set to establish the first regional academy for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). The academy will train and provide more than 30,000 professional certificates to Saudi nationals.

Sources: Leap Forward, Statista, Oxford Business Group, and Technavio.