Saudi Arabia on right path in transforming government services, new survey finds
March 20, 2021, 10:57 am

Saudi Arabia on right path in transforming government services, new survey finds

The skyline of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. (File photo)

A nation-wide survey in Saudi Arabia has found that 84 percent of people described themselves as being “somewhat” or “very” happy with the government services they had used in the past two years.

The survey has been carried out by a newly-launched think tank Serco Institute in Saudi Arabia which has been set up to undertake research into public service design, development and delivery in order to help governments create better and more innovative solutions across a range of services for citizens and residents.

Serco is an international public services organization offering in the Middle East workforce services, data and digital asset management.

The think tank’s report, ‘Transformation, digitisation & happiness: Public opinion on government services in Saudi Arabia,’ is the first output from the Serco Institute in the region, with a series of reports and research planned for release throughout the year.

This report outlines findings that in the post-pandemic scenario, people are now more likely to access services digitally.

The survey revealed that service users regard government services as digital (77 percent), attentive (72 percent), modern (79 percent), clear (77 percent) and consistent (76 percent) in the information they provide.

A close relationship was also found between the happiness of residents and citizens, and the quality of government services.

Commenting on the survey results, Engineer Basem Aljedai, CEO Government Innovation Center (Govx Hub), said “We can see that 80 percent achieve citizen happiness through these services, we have to look at the quality of the infrastructure.”

“In the Kingdom, we are proud to say we have a strong infrastructure on which we can build strong services. Citizens and residents can easily access these services from anywhere in the world and have their applications processed remotely, raising the level of their happiness.”

Central to the report’s recommendations is that Saudi Arabia is on the right path as they continue to transform government services. The report outlines that this should be done carefully, using service user insight, the support of the private sector and other external partners.

This is particularly important, according to the research, due to the close relationship between government services, happiness, and trust.

Kate Steadman, Serco Institute Director, said: “Our survey has found that the Government is on the right track when it comes to its focus on increasing digital access. Users want quicker, simpler, and more transparent services. With greater digital access, a focus on Vision 2030, and supported by the work of YESSER (e-Government Program), government services are set to continue to evolve to meet the demands and appetites of Saudi Arabian citizens and residents.”

source: N.P. Krishna Kumar

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.