Saudi Arabia tops ITU ICT Development Index for second year

Saudi Arabia has retained the top global ranking in the 2026 Information and Communication Technology Development Index.

According to Arab News, the Kingdom scored 99.8 out of 100 in the index published by the International Telecommunication Union. The index measures digital development across 159 economies.

Saudi Arabia ranked first for the second consecutive year. The ranking is based on two main pillars: universal connectivity and meaningful connectivity.

The Kingdom received a full score for universal connectivity and 99.6 points for meaningful connectivity.

Saudi Arabia also led the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. It ranked ahead of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. The GCC average was 97.5, compared with an Arab States regional average of 78.

Internet usage in Saudi Arabia reached 100 percent, while median mobile internet speed rose to 216 megabits per second.