Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s digital economy contributed 15.6% to the Kingdom’s GDP in 2023, up 1.6% from 2022, according to the latest Digital Economy Statistics Bulletin released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The report highlighted a notable rise in imports of ICT goods, reaching SAR 54.9 billion in 2023, up from SAR 45.8 billion the previous year, reflecting a 19.9% growth rate. Meanwhile, exports and re-exports of ICT-related goods surged by 76.1%, climbing from SAR 6.7 billion to SAR 11.8 billion.

The bulletin also revealed that 71.6% of internet-connected establishments in the Kingdom now use smart systems and devices, including smart alarms, meters, lighting, and surveillance cameras.

On the financial front, the ICT sector recorded SAR 236.4 billion in operating revenues and SAR 115.4 billion in operating expenses, while worker compensation reached SAR 27.5 billion.

The digital economy’s contribution was further broken down into three levels: the core level accounted for 2.6% (ICT-producing activities), the narrow level for 2.3% (establishments reliant on digital inputs), and the broad level for 10.7% (those significantly enhancing products or services through digital means).

The report is based on international standards outlined by UNCTAD to ensure global comparability of Saudi Arabia’s digital economy indicators.