A Historical Overview of the Ministry

Foundational Beginnings:
In 1345H (1926), the Directorate of Telegraph and Post was established during the reign of the Founding King, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, forming the first cornerstone of the Kingdom’s telecommunications and postal sector. It marked the institutional launch of modern communication services at the time.

Institutional Organization Phase:
In 1395H (1974), the entity was fully dedicated to the telecommunications sector under the name Ministry of Telegraph, Post and Telephone, assuming responsibility for regulating and operating telecommunications and postal services. This period witnessed significant expansion in the sector’s infrastructure.

Transformation into Communications and Information Technology:
In 1424H (2003), a decision was issued to rename the entity as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), reflecting the evolution of its role from managing traditional communication services to regulating and enabling the broader ICT sector in all its components, in alignment with accelerating global digital transformation.

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 since the launch of Vision 2030.
• ICT Market Size: The Kingdom’s ICT market increased from SAR 105 billion before 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 a baseline of SAR 165 million in 2018.
• Tech Unicorns: The number of technology unicorns reached 8 companies by the end of 2025, compared to zero 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.

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 E-Government Development Index

National Workforce
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology employs 779 male and female staff members, representing national talent that contributes to leading sector objectives and enhancing regional and global competitiveness.