Page 67 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia Leads Global Cybersecurity Rankings

Saudi Arabia has retained its position as the highest-ranked country
in global cybersecurity, according to the latest International Institute
for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness
Yearbook. Officials attribute this continued success to the strong
support from the nation’s leadership, including King Salman and
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The country’s national
digital transformation strategy has been pivotal in positioning Saudi
Arabia at the forefront of international cybersecurity standards.
Officials emphasized that the Kingdom’s achievements arise from
a comprehensive and long-term approach balancing national
security priorities with economic and technological development
goals. Further affirming its status, Saudi Arabia was designated a
Tier 1 “role-modeling” nation in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024,
published by the United Nations’ International Telecommunication
Union (ITU). This recognition highlights the Kingdom’s leadership
and international standing in the cybersecurity domain. At the
core of Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity framework is the National
Cybersecurity Authority (NCA), the primary agency responsible
for overseeing national cybersecurity efforts, and the Saudi
Information Technology Company, which acts as its strategic
and technical partner. Together, these institutions have bolstered
national cyber defenses, promoted localization of critical
technologies, and fostered expanded domestic and international
collaboration. The NCA serves as the national reference point for
all cybersecurity-related matters, tasked with enhancing digital
resilience by protecting critical infrastructure, vital sectors, and
government services. It also establishes policies, frameworks, and
standards, while encouraging innovation, investment, and growth
within the Kingdom’s cybersecurity industry. These initiatives are
part of Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to create a secure, trusted
digital environment that fuels economic growth and strengthens
global cooperation

Oman’s Telecom Sector Booms Amid Ambitious Digital Transformation Goals

Oman’s telecom sector expanded by 15.2 percent by May 2025, overall performance as of November 2024, up from 53 percent
driven by surging mobile subscriptions reaching 8.13 million and the previous year, digitizing thousands of public services. Four key
a remarkable 118.7 percent increase in Internet of Things (IoT) agencies, including the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority,
connections to 1.55 million, according to the National Center for have reached advanced digital excellence. Telecom subscription
Statistics and Information. This growth underscores the rising data shows postpaid mobile connections increased 5.6 percent
demand for smart connectivity in sectors like logistics, utilities, and to 1.23 million, prepaid rose 3.1 percent to over 5.33 million, and
manufacturing. Central to Oman’s Vision 2040, the country’s digital mobile broadband subscriptions hit 5.41 million. Fixed broadband
infrastructure development focuses on innovation, economic subscriptions grew 2.6 percent to 588,015, with fiber optic services
diversification, and enhancing public services. Fiber optic and up 11.4 percent to 339,279 and fixed 5G connections increasing by
fixed 5G subscriptions have grown steadily, marking a shift toward 2.1 percent to 215,850. However, legacy technologies like fixed 4G
advanced high-speed connectivity. Mordor Intelligence attributes and satellite Internet saw declines. Major infrastructure projects
this momentum to significant public investments, including a such as the unified e-government portal and the National Digital
$441.5 million digital transformation initiative launched in 2022 Integration Platform—which has processed over 1.4 billion data
aimed at modernizing public services and delivering seamless transactions—are accelerating Oman’s smart services. Digital
smart government offerings. The Digital Economy Program government transactions surged to nearly 27 million in 2024, with
projects the digital sector’s GDP contribution to rise from 3 the government targeting 80 percent of essential services to be
percent in 2025 to 10 percent by 2040. Oman’s Government Digital fully online by 2025.
Transformation Program, Tahawul, has achieved 73 percent

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