Digital Transformation Key Enablers

The legal and regulatory framework surrounding eID in Saudi Arabia is grounded in several key pieces of legislation, such as the Civil Affairs Law and the Electronic Transactions Law and its implementing regulations, which provide the legal foundation for the use of electronic signatures and identification in digital transactions, ensuring their legal validity and enforceability. 

The Saudi National Digital Identity Management initiative, led by the NIC, aims to issue and manage secure digital identities for citizens and residents, mirroring physical identity systems. Managing the personal identities of approximately 60 million users, the platform offers:

• Self-Service Registration and Credentials Management,
• Online Identification and Authentication,
• PKI Signing and Validation for online transactions,
• User Identity Validation and Provisioning,
• Automated Federation based on authentication levels,
• Online Service Providers Onboarding and
• Physical ID Post-Issuance.

This system establishes a secure, reliable platform that enhances trust in online services in Saudi Arabia. This integrated system ensures a secure and reliable digital identity platform, complementing the existing National Single Sign-On (SSO) and mobile applications like Nafath.

The National Single Sign-On (SSO) System is a foundational component of Saudi Arabia's eID infrastructure. It enables users to authenticate once and access over 6,000 government and private sector services like banking and telecom through a single login. 

The SSO simplifies access, enhances user convenience, and ensures security by verifying identity through a centralized system. SSO allows users to authenticate once and gain access to all services they are entitled to, eliminating the need for multiple logins and enhancing convenience. The integration of SSO across government portals means that individuals only need to remember one set of credentials, reducing the burden on users and improving the overall user experience. Importantly, SSO is not only crucial for improving user access but also for ensuring the security and integrity of digital interactions.

As part of the eID ecosystem, the Nafath mobile application (available on iOS, Android, and Huawei) enables users to create their digital identity securely via smartphones. This integration enhances user experience and accessibility, ensuring that individuals can authenticate their identity anytime and from anywhere. The system is also supported by the 'Absher individuals' application, which allows users to store and digitalize key identity documents, including national IDs, residency permits, driving licenses, and vehicle registrations. This infrastructure is designed to enhance security, simplify public service access, and reduce reliance on physical documentation.

The implementation of electronic signatures and trust services in Saudi Arabia underpins the Kingdom's broader digital transformation strategy, providing a secure, legally recognized mechanism for digital transactions. This initiative facilitates trust in digital interactions across sectors, reduces dependency on paper-based systems, and supports Vision 2030 objectives of a thriving digital economy. These services are enabled through the Saudi National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), managed by the National Information Center (NIC), and regulated by the Digital Government Authority (DGA).

The legal foundation for electronic signatures and trust services is established through the Electronic Transactions Law and the Saudi National PKI Certificate Policy. These frameworks ensure that electronic signatures are legally recognized and can be used for a wide range of electronic transactions, including contracts and e-commerce. The law mandates that electronic signatures meet certain technical and security standards to ensure their validity, providing the legal basis for their use in official and commercial transactions. Additionally, the law supports the establishment of a robust Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which is integral to ensuring the security and authenticity of electronic signatures. The DGA licenses Certification Authorities (CAs) and regulates their operations, while NIC enforces compliance with PKI policies. Additionally, cross-certification policies ensure interoperability with international PKI systems, enhancing global trust in Saudi-issued digital certificates.

The implementation of electronic signatures is supported by the National PKI, which is managed by the NIC. The PKI serves as the backbone for secure electronic transactions by providing a system for issuing, managing, and validating electronic certificates and signatures. This infrastructure includes a network of CAs, which are responsible for issuing and managing digital certificates used for electronic signatures. The digital certificates ensure the authenticity of the signatory's identity and the integrity of the electronic document or transaction. 

The system allows for the secure exchange of information across government, business, and individual platforms. The NIC operates the PKI system, ensuring that digital certificates meet national security and technical standards. Saudi Arabia's certification system is designed to support a wide range of electronic interactions, including e-government services, financial transactions, and digital contracts. The framework also includes stringent measures to prevent fraud and ensure the privacy and security of users' digital signatures. Through this infrastructure, Saudi Arabia has created a trusted environment for the use of electronic signatures, fostering the growth of e-commerce and digital government services.

The legal framework for e-payments is guided by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Ministry of Finance. The Law of Payments and Payment Services and its Implementing Regulations govern electronic payment systems, ensuring their security and reliability. Regulations ensure data privacy, cybersecurity, and interoperability, enabling seamless payments within and beyond Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's advanced payment infrastructure includes platforms like:

• Online bill payments system Sadad: Enables utility payments, taxes, and government fees.
• Instant Payment System "SARIE": Facilitates instant fund transfers to reduce financial risks.
• National card payment System Mada: Supports ATM, POS, and online payments, including mobile applications like Mada Pay.
• Financial Services Platform Etimad: Integrating e-Invoice as part of the procurement process and facilitating payments from government entities to the private sector.

The Kingdom also leads in mobile wallet adoption, with solutions like STC Pay and Apple Pay enhancing accessibility and consumer convenience. Digital wallets and e-payment portals like Amazon Payment and Moyasar integrate cutting-edge technologies to support the nation's growing e-commerce and remittance needs.

Electronic Notifications (e-Notifications) are a core component of Saudi Arabia's digital government strategy, designed to deliver secure, efficient, and real-time communication between government entities and individuals. Integrated across service platforms such as Tawakkalna, Absher, Etimad, Sehhaty, and Muqeem, these notifications ensure timely updates, reminders, and alerts, enhancing accessibility and improving citizen engagement. E-Notifications align with Vision 2030's goal of establishing a transparent, citizen-centric, and technologically advanced government.

The e-Notification infrastructure functions as a decentralized feature within government platforms, seamlessly integrating into their workflows. Notifications are tailored to service offerings, such as health updates, document renewals, or financial approvals, and delivered through appropriate channels. Platforms like Tawakkalna, Absher, and Sehhaty exemplify this integration, enhancing the user experience and ensuring relevant information reaches citizens efficiently.

E-invoicing is regulated by the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA). The E-Invoicing Regulation, effective since December 2020, mandates all taxpayers (except non-resident taxpayers) to issue electronic invoices compliant with ZATCA guidelines (business to business). ZATCA has also adopted Controls, Requirements, Technical Specifications, and Procedural Rules for e-invoicing, ensuring secure, standardized implementation nationwide.

The Fatoora Platform is a centralized system developed by ZATCA to streamline the implementation and management of electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) in Saudi Arabia. It supports taxpayers in onboarding, integrating compliant invoicing solutions, and ensuring adherence to the E-Invoicing Regulation. The platform provides tools for generating, verifying, and storing electronic invoices in a structured format. Additionally, it offers features like real-time integration with ZATCA's systems, ensuring transparency and compliance with tax regulations.

The Government Service Bus (GSB) is a key enabler of Saudi Arabia's digital transformation, facilitating seamless, secure, and efficient data exchange among government entities. Managed by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), the GSB supports over 240 integrated services, processes over 4 billion transactions annually, and connects 220 beneficiaries, including ministries, authorities, and public institutions. 

As a backbone for e-government transactions, the GSB streamlines the exchange of essential data, such as commercial registries, health records, real estate data, and enterprise licenses, all while ensuring data security and privacy. The platform is designed to improve the performance of government services by reducing service delivery time, simplifying the integration of new services, and offering a more responsive digital government infrastructure.

Infrastructure and Cybersecurity

The GSB's robust infrastructure includes network components, servers, and licenses integrated with the National Information Center's (NIC) monitoring systems like the Network Operations Center (NOC) and a Security Operations Center (SOC). It complies with cybersecurity controls set by the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) and follows governance and compliance standards. 

Key Features and Services

• Publishing Platform: Enables government entities to publish their services.

• Inter-entity Integration: Facilitates access to shared services through a unified platform

• 24/7 Technical Support: Offers round-the-clock assistance to beneficiaries. 

• Flexibility: Allows modification or cancellation of services as needed. 

Achievements and Statistics

• Connecting 220 beneficiaries (government entities)
• More than 240 services deployed
• More than 595 operations have been deployed
• Granting approximately 13120 authorizations to beneficiaries
• More than 4 billion operations have been monitored since the beginning of 2023

More information, including a list of services and beneficiaries, is available on SDAIA's website. 

The National Data Bank (NDB) is an integrated ecosystem of national data platforms established and managed by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA). Designed to accelerate data literacy and embed data as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's digital economy, the NDB plays a central role in transforming the Kingdom into a data-driven society. It comprises six key platforms, two open to the general public and four designed for government entities. Together, they enable the sharing, governance, and monetization of national data assets in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

The Open Data Portal empowers government and private sector agencies to publish and share open datasets with the public. By enabling broad access to data, the portal promotes transparency, encourages community engagement, and inspires innovation. The platform is built to deliver an intuitive user experience while adhering to both local and international open data standards. Through the portal, designated representatives from government entities can create, manage, and publish datasets, making them accessible to data enthusiasts and the wider community for exploration and analytics. The following services are offered through the portal:

• Frictionless dataset publishing workflows for data providers.
• Well-defined dataset management and maintenance lifecycle.
• Supporting various formats such as APIs and delimited files.
• Community engagement features such as events, forums, and knowledge bases.

The Data Lake is a centralized, national-scale data repository that integrates and consolidates data silos across the Kingdom. It is designed to store vast amounts of raw data in its native format, regardless of size, speed, or structure, offering flexibility and scalability. The data collected is refined, enriched, and curated in compliance with national standards before being shared with government agencies in a secure environment. The Data Lake enables agile decision-making and supports self-service analytics. The following services are offered:

• Highly available, scalable, and flexible platform to serve multifaceted producers and consumers.
• Secure and large-scale data transmission through proprietary solutions.
• Full transparency through lineage, audits, and logging.
• Secure integration with the Data Marketplace.

As of May 2024, over 50 government agencies and 240 systems were connected to the platform, underlining its role as the backbone of Saudi Arabia's national data infrastructure.

The Data Marketplace provides a secure and scalable platform for sharing and monetizing data between government agencies. It simplifies data transactions by removing barriers between providers and consumers and enables visibility into the broader national data ecosystem. Agencies can discover and subscribe to data assets through an easy-to-use interface, while the platform ensures uncompromising security and supports flexible data-sharing models. The following services are offered:

• Consumer onboarding and management.
• APIs discovery and subscription.
• Innovative and scalable data-sharing interfaces.
• Flexible monetization models.

The Data Marketplace also introduces monetization opportunities, allowing agencies to leverage their data as an asset.

The National Data Catalog is a comprehensive inventory of government systems' metadata, providing users with the tools to search, discover, and understand national data assets. It facilitates data democratization by promoting self-service data exploration and improving data literacy. The catalog enables a collaborative environment where users can navigate a repository enriched with context and semantics, improving data understanding and reducing the risk of errors. It also enhances data governance and compliance while accelerating data analysis across government entities. The following services are offered:

• Intuitive features for discovering the national data assets.
• 360-degree visibility of data assets.
• Data trust through lineage and provenance.
• Optimized governance, compliance, and quality.

The Reference Data Management (RDM) Platform standardizes and classifies reference data nationally, defining data ownership and ensuring consistency across government entities. It supports rigorous curation and quality control processes, ensuring that reference data is accurate, complete, and interoperable. The platform helps government entities align their internal data with national standards, fostering improved data quality and business outcomes. Reference data managed within the RDM is also made available through the Data Marketplace to ensure wide accessibility. The following services are offered: 

• Central and collaborative reference data management.
• Built-in automated, tailored accuracy and quality controls.
• Highly flexible and customizable workflows for complex reference data.
• Reference data availability through the Data Marketplace.

The Data Labs initiative provides a collaborative environment for government entities to experiment with data-driven ideas and develop proofs of concept before full-scale implementation. Leveraging the data stored in the Data Lake, Data Labs supports agencies in exploring how data and insights can enhance public services and address civic challenges. The labs offer advanced analytics capabilities, enabling government teams to test hypotheses, co-create solutions, and drive innovation. They also provide tools for self-service reporting and dashboard prototyping, facilitating every data discovery and experimentation stage. The following services are offered:

• Open and secure platform for data discovery, wrangling, munging, and mash-up.
• Self-service tools for reports and dashboard prototyping.
• Equipped with technologies related to augmented and advanced analytics.
• Collaborative workspace for co-ideation and co-creation.