A Historical Overview of the Ministry
Foundational Beginnings:
In 1926 (1345H), the Directorate of Telegraph, Post and Telephone was established during the reign of the Founding King, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, laying the institutional foundation of the Kingdom’s telecommunications and postal sector and marking the beginning of organized modern communication services in Saudi Arabia.
Institutional Organization Phase:
In 1975 (1395H), as the role of telecommunications grew significantly in supporting national development and global progress, Royal Decree No. A/336 dated 8/10/1395H established the Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone to oversee both the postal and telecommunications sectors. At that time, the total number of telephone lines did not exceed 130,000 lines, with total revenues amounting to SAR 250 million.
Transformation into Communications and Information Technology:
In 1424H (2003), Royal Decree No. A/2 dated 28/2/1424H renamed the Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). This reflected the Kingdom’s strategic focus on advancing the ICT sector and transitioning toward an information-based society.
Post–Vision 2030 Transformation Phase:
With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016 (1437H), the sector entered a comprehensive and historic transformation phase, including:
Launching 5G services in 2020 (1441H), making the Kingdom the first in the Middle East and North Africa in terms of network speed and deployment.
Introducing the Government Digital Transformation Policy to enhance service efficiency and raise digital government maturity.
Issuing the first National Cloud Computing Policy to enable cloud adoption and attract technology investments.
Expanding fiber-optic coverage from approximately 1 million homes at the start of Vision 2030 to more than 5.6 million homes.
Key Indicators Since the Launch of Vision 2030
Growth of the Digital Economy:
The digital economy grew from SAR 298 billion in 2018 to SAR 522 billion.
ICT Market Size:
The Kingdom’s ICT market increased from SAR 105 billion prior to Vision 2030 to SAR 190 billion in 2025.
Growth in ICT Jobs:
The number of jobs in the ICT sector rose from approximately 250,000 in 2018 to more than 406,000 in 2025.
Venture Capital Investments:
Venture capital investments reached SAR 6.2 billion by the end of 2025, compared to SAR 165 million in 2018.
Technology Unicorns:
The number of technology unicorns reached 8 companies by the end of 2025, compared to none prior to Vision 2030.
Data Center Growth:
Data center capacity increased from 68 megawatts in 2021 to more than 440 megawatts in 2025.
Strategic AI Agreement:
The signing of a strategic artificial intelligence agreement with the United States in 2025.
Saudi Arabia Global Leadership:
1st globally in the ICT Development Index
2nd globally in the Digital Government Maturity Index
2nd globally in the Digital Regulatory Maturity Index
6th globally in the UN E-Government Development Index
National Workforce:
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology employs 779 male and female staff members, representing national talent contributing to achieving sector objectives and enhancing regional and global competitiveness.