H.E. Mr. António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the accompanying delegation visited the Innovation Hub at the Digital Government Authority in Riyadh today, where he met with H.E. Eng. Ahmed bin Mohammed Alsuwaiyan, the Governor of the Authority, in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Alwasil.

The meeting discussed topics of mutual interest in the areas of digital government development, support for innovation, and enhancing the sustainability of digital transformation ecosystems. It also reviewed Saudi Arabia’s efforts in digital enablement to support the Sustainable Development Goals and improve the efficiency of the government sector.

The meeting further addressed avenues for cooperation between the Digital Government Authority and the United Nations, particularly in the areas of knowledge exchange, development of digital standards, enablement of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, strengthening digital capabilities, and building partnerships that contribute to improving the quality of digital services at the international level.

Following this, the UN Secretary-General toured the Authority’s Innovation Hub, which includes a range of specialized laboratories and facilities, such as the Digital Inclusion Lab, Service Design Lab, Learning Experience Lab, and the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Lab, among other facilities that support innovation and the development of digital government solutions.

The Authority’s team delivered a presentation on Saudi Arabia’s digital government strategy and the progress achieved in the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI), reflecting the maturity of the national digital experience and the advancement of Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Secretary-General commended Saudi Arabia’s remarkable progress in the field of digital government, affirming that the achievements represent a leading model at the international level and reflect a clear commitment to developing innovative and effective government services. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening joint cooperation to support initiatives that contribute to building an advanced digital future that serves global development.