Based on the responsibility of the Digital Government Authority in guiding government entities to apply international best practices in various areas related to digital government, the Authority developed a guideline for establishing the National Enterprise Architecture in government entities, Taking into consideration the regulatory framework for digital government business, which is a regulatory Instrument developed based on international best practices, to unify the concept of Government digital policies, standards, and guidelines, institutionalizing them, and guiding government entities through the process of their implementation. This guideline is considered one of the supporting mechanisms that will contribute to increasing the adoption and usage of enterprise architecture concepts and services to enable and support digital transformation activities in government entities.

The purpose of this guideline is:

• Describe the basics and concepts of EA related to establish and implement EA in government entities.
• Demonstrate the benefits from EA capabilities to develop the digital transformation roadmaps and effectively support the enterprise vision, strategic objectives and initiatives.
• Support government entities to establish and operate the EA office. In addition, continuously improve the EA practice.

CxO’s (Decision Makers in Government Entities)

• Overview of EA services and interactions with other enterprise functions to maximize the value of EA.
• Understand the organizational capabilities, weaknesses, strengths, challenges and improvement opportunities by EA implementation.

Enterprise Architecture Team (Business/Application/Data/Technology experts)

• Understand the basics of EA implementation and operation.
• Update and govern the EA components to ensure the alignment, data accuracy and unifying the sources.

4.1 Enterprise Architecture Definition

EA is a practice and a discipline for studying the current state of a government entity and creating a roadmap for transition to the target architecture to achieve alignment between the business (services and processes), information technology (data, applications, and infrastructure) and strategic objectives of the government entity.

4.2 Enterprise Architecture Business Values

The EA has an important role in supporting and accelerating digital transformation for government entities throughout:

Preparing a roadmap and comprehensive initiatives for enabling government entities to build capabilities and resolve the gaps in all EA domains (business, data, applications, and technology).

Achieving the alignment and effectively integration between business and IT to achieve the entity’s vision and strategic objectives

Enabling government entities to introduce an effective governance capability by establishing architectural standards and processes.

Defining EA principles and standards to optimize government entities’ business processes, applications systems, data, and technologies.

Ensuring the best utilization of government entity resources by identifying and enhancing services, applications, and technical components that are reusable or shared and avoiding duplication.

• Digital Government business and policies Regulatory Framework
• Enterprise Architecture in the government sector: International and local practices
• National Overall Reference Architecture (NORA)