Digital Technology Forum 2021

The Digital Technology Forum 2021 was the first edition of the annual digital technology forum held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is organized by the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST), which is responsible for advancing the information technology sector and emerging technologies. The forum focuses on key aspects of the sector and discusses them by hosting local and international experts and investors. It addresses various topics related to digital technology, innovation, and creativity.

The theme of the first edition of the forum was "Promising Investment Opportunities for a Digital Future," organized by CST in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Invest Saudi on August 24, 2021. The forum aimed to discuss and enhance investment opportunities available in Saudi Arabia’s information technology and emerging technologies sector, and review market statistics and spending trends. The forum also addresses various aspects related to the sector, given its role in driving economic digital transformation and achieving Saudi Vision 2030.

The Digital Technology Forum 2021 focused on three main objectives: Highlighting and enhancing the investment opportunities available in Saudi Arabia's information technology and emerging technologies sector, presenting the market size, and discussing various topics related to digital technology, innovation, and creativity.

The first edition of the Digital Technology Forum focused on five main topics. The forum began by highlighting the role of the communications and information technology ecosystem and the Ministry of Investment in enabling Saudi Arabia’s information technology and emerging technologies sector and enhancing investment in it. This was followed by a review of the sector’s strategies. The forum also addressed technology enablement in infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data. Then, successful stories of investment in technology were presented, and discussions were held on modern trends in investing in new technologies. The forum concluded with a discussion on the attractive investment environment in the information technology and emerging technologies sector.

During the Digital Technology Forum 2021, several statistics were announced showcasing Saudi Arabias progress in the information technology and emerging technologies sector at both local and global levels. These statistics included Saudi Arabia ranking first in digital development among the Group of Twenty (G20), aiming to promote economic growth. Saudi Arabia also ranked second among G20 in spectrum allocation and ninth globally in digital skills literacy. Additionally, it led the Middle East and North Africa region with the fastest-growing and most rapidly expanding cloud services markets. The information technology and emerging technologies market in Saudi Arabia is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 10 percent, surpassing USD27 billion by 2025. Furthermore, the sector aims to increase cloud computing enablement by raising spending to 30 percent of the total expenditure in the communications and information technology sector by the year of Saudi Vision 2030.