Based on the decision of the Council of Ministers No. (418) dated 25/07/1442AH, issued with the approval to organize the Digital Government Authority, and with reference to Paragraphs (5) and (10) of Article (4) of its Regulation, which stipulate that one of the Authority’s powers and responsibilities is to "the Authority shall issue the measurements, indicators, tools, and reports to measure the performance of government entities and their capabilities in the field of digital government, and the satisfaction of the beneficiary thereof", and “Provide support to government entities regarding digital government services, to adopt and enable emerging technologies”.

As an extension of the role of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in effectively supporting and empowering government entities to explore the potential offered by emerging technologies and to employ them optimally in order to achieve national objectives sustainably and realize the desired impact, the Authority has developed the second edition of the introductory guide for the “Emerging Technology Adoption Readiness Index.” This edition introduces the Index and its objectives, as well as its current methodology, which is based on a set of capabilities, elements, and criteria through which the readiness of entities to adopt emerging technologies is assessed. It also highlights trending technologies and their applications—such as Artificial Intelligence, which is one of the most widely adopted technologies in the government sector. Furthermore, the guide presents the criteria for selecting the targeted entities in this year’s Index, the evaluation mechanisms, and the readiness levels by which the targeted entities are classified.

This guide aims to provide the necessary support for government entities to enhance their readiness in adopting emerging technologies through the following:

• Presenting a unified framework for the mechanism assessing the readiness of government entities to adopt emerging technologies, in alignment with international best practices and benchmarking studies.

• Contributing to improving the readiness of government entities to adopt emerging technologies by applying the framework presented in this document and reviewing leading emerging technologies.

• Promoting transparency and enabling government entities to gain a comprehensive understanding of the methodology, including its capabilities, elements, and standards.

This introductory guide presents the scope and content of the Emerging Technology Adoption Readiness Index 2026 (fourth cycle). It outlines the concept of emerging technology adoption and highlights the latest global trends in this field—most notably artificial intelligence (AI). The guide also provides an overview of the Index, its objectives, and the key terms and definitions related to its core components. In addition, it explains the Index’s methodology and overall framework, including the adopted capabilities, elements, and standards. It further identifies the targeted government entities and the criteria for their selection, as well as the approved assessment stages and mechanisms and the readiness levels by which entities will be classified.

This guide targets specific government entities, including digital transformation leaders and departments responsible for adopting emerging technologies, research, innovation, and artificial intelligence. It also addresses the private sector entities that operate or are responsible for managing activities related to emerging technologies within government entities.

For more information; Check the digital version.

The following terms and expressions - wherever they appear in this document - shall have the meanings indicated on the opposite side of each of them, unless the context requires otherwise: