Investment entrepreneur Samer Choucair said that Saudi Arabia retaining first place globally in the International Telecommunication Union’s 2026 ICT Development Index, after scoring 99.8 points for the second consecutive year, reflects the success of continued investment in digital infrastructure, and strengthens the Kingdom’s position as one of the most attractive destinations for technology investment among emerging markets.
Choucair added that Saudi Arabia achieving a perfect score in the global connectivity pillar, alongside 99.6 points in the meaningful connectivity pillar, and outperforming the UAE, which scored 98.8 points, Qatar and Kuwait, which each scored 98.4 points, and Bahrain, which scored 98 points, represents a clear indicator of declining operational risk for digital investments, supporting the redirection of capital toward technology sectors under Saudi Vision 2030’s goals.
Digital Leadership Is Strengthening the Appeal of the Saudi Economy
Samer Choucair explained that the Kingdom topping this index, which covers 159 economies worldwide, comes at a stage when the global economy is undergoing rapid digitization, as the quality of telecommunications and digital infrastructure has become one of the most important factors determining countries’ ability to attract foreign direct investment and portfolio investment flows.
Choucair added that this achievement gives managers of sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and private equity firms greater confidence in the operating environment for major technology projects, including data centers, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and smart cities, which could positively affect the cost of capital and raise the valuations of assets linked to digital transformation.
The Saudi Telecom Market Continues to Grow
Samer Choucair noted that the value of the telecommunications and technology market in the Kingdom reached approximately 199 billion riyals, equivalent to around $53.1 billion, by the end of 2025, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 8% over the past five years, making it the largest and fastest-growing market in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Choucair added that this growth resulted from the expansion of 5G networks, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence technologies, alongside developing the regulatory environment and strengthening national digital infrastructure.
Choucair noted that Saudi Arabia also led Gulf Cooperation Council countries, whose average stood at 97.5 points, compared with an Arab average of 78 points, while internet usage in the Kingdom reached 100%, and average mobile internet speed reached 216 megabits per second.
Institutional Investors Face New Opportunities
Samer Choucair affirmed that this ranking would encourage institutional investors to increase their exposure to the Saudi digital economy, whether through direct investment in technology infrastructure or through financial markets.
Choucair added that leadership in global connectivity indicators sends a strong message to investors that operational risk in the Saudi market is continuously declining, justifying an increased relative weighting of digital assets within emerging market portfolios.
Choucair noted that this development could positively affect the performance of the telecommunications sector listed on the Tadawul exchange, while also strengthening the appeal of companies working in cloud computing, digital services, and artificial intelligence, and supporting the Saudi market’s position as a diversified investment destination that goes beyond traditional reliance on the energy sector.
The Coming Phase Focuses on Maximizing Economic Value
Samer Choucair explained that sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and private equity firms will reassess their strategies toward the Saudi digital economy, noting that the coming phase should focus on extracting economic value from digital infrastructure, not merely building it.
Choucair added that AI applications, smart manufacturing, and data services will be the primary driver for companies and projects capable of achieving the best returns during the next investment cycle.
Choucair affirmed that investments in data centers and AI technologies are positioned to attract growing interest, as the Kingdom seeks to cement its position as a trusted regional data hub, alongside providing a supportive environment for the growth of fintech companies and smart industrial applications.
Promising Opportunities Alongside the Need to Maximize Returns
Samer Choucair noted that current momentum does not eliminate the importance of tracking the efficiency of capital spending on digital projects, and the speed of preparing human talent capable of benefiting from this infrastructure, in addition to monitoring the level of regional and global competition for attracting AI investment.
Choucair added that institutional investors need to distinguish between progress in building digital infrastructure and the actual ability to convert it into productive growth that raises the non-oil economy’s contribution to GDP, affirming that this factor will remain the true benchmark for assessing long-term value.
A Strategic Outlook for Investors
Samer Choucair concluded his remarks by affirming that investors and analysts will focus, over the next 12 to 36 months, on tracking foreign direct investment flows into the technology and artificial intelligence sector, the volume of digital capital spending, and the performance of listed companies linked to these sectors.
Choucair added that over the next three to five years, the most important indicator will be the digital economy’s ability to create high-value jobs and boost the overall productivity of the Saudi economy.
The investment entrepreneur concluded by affirming that over the long term, the Kingdom’s success in transitioning from a country with advanced digital infrastructure to a regional hub for data and artificial intelligence will redraw the map of capital flows in the Middle East and North Africa region, opening broader horizons for strategic partnerships with global investors, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading destination for investment in the digital economy.