Two Years in a Row: Saudi Arabia Tops Global ICT Development Index 2026
Saudi Arabia has established its status as a global leader in connectivity by ranking first worldwide in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Index (IDI) 2026 for the second consecutive year.
Issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the index measures digital development and progress in information and communications technology services across 159 economies, covering two main pillars: universal connectivity and meaningful connectivity.
Saudi Arabia achieved an overall score of 99.8 out of 100, securing the full score for universal connectivity and 99.6 for meaningful connectivity.
With these results, the Kingdom topped the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), ahead of the UAE (98.8), Qatar and Kuwait (98.4 each), Bahrain (98), and Oman (91.6).
Collectively, the six GCC nations achieved an average score of 97.5, substantially outpacing the broader Arab States regional average of 78.
For two constative years..
Saudi Arabia ranked 1st globally in the @ITU’s ICT Development Index (IDI) 2026#ConnectingTheFutureFor more: https://t.co/a7xnNnpfQM pic.twitter.com/VDG2X79JAS
— هيئة الاتصالات والفضاء والتقنية (@CST_KSA) July 1, 2026
In a statement, the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) said that the achievement underscores the Kingdom’s strong performance in the two pillars.
It attributed this milestone to the unlimited support of Saudi leadership, the public-private partnerships, and the robust digital infrastructure across the Kingdom, which further accelerates the growth of its digital economy.
According to the CST, Saudi Arabia’s ICT market surged to SAR 199 billion by the end of 2025, driven by an 8% CAGR over the last five years. This growth firmly cements the Kingdom’s status as the largest and most dynamic digital economy in the MENA region.
Furthermore, this expansion is backed by robust infrastructure, featuring 100% internet penetration and a median mobile download speed of 216 Mbps.
“Saudi Arabia has maintained its position at the forefront of the ICT Development Index (IDI), reaffirming its rapid digital transformation and sustaining its global leadership,” the CST statement noted.
