Saudi Arabia Tops Regional Digital Government Index — What It Means for Indian Expats

Saudi Arabia has been ranked #1 in the Middle East and North Africa in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services (GEMS) Maturity Index 2025 for the 4th consecutive time, with an overall maturity score of 99%. The index is published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). It’s more than a vanity metric, because it reflects how Indian expats deal with government services day to day.

What GEMS 2025 means for you

ESCWA’s GEMS index assessed 17 countries on how well 100 priority government services are delivered to individuals and businesses through digital platforms and apps. It looks at service availability, usage and user satisfaction, and public outreach. Saudi Arabia scored 100% on availability, 99% on usage and satisfaction, and 100% on outreach.

The platforms Indian expats use most include:

• Absher, for iqama, visa, traffic and other Ministry of Interior services
• Muqeem, which employers use to manage their workers’ residency data
• Qiwa, for labour and employment services
• Nusuk, for Umrah and Hajj bookings
• Nafath, for secure digital authentication

For Indian expats, this means fewer office visits and more services available online.

How this benefits Indian expats specifically

1. Faster iqama renewals

Your employer can renew your iqama online (through Absher Business or Muqeem) without you visiting an office, once the fees are paid.

2. Exit re-entry visas online

You can apply for, check, and manage your exit re-entry visa online. For most workers, the employer issues it through Absher Business or Muqeem, and no Jawazat visit is needed.

3. Huroob status checking

You can check your huroob status online instead of visiting a passport office.

4. Family services

Many dependent and family services, such as dependent iqama renewals and family visit visa applications, are handled online. See our Iqama Guide for details.

5. Vehicle services

Driving licence renewal, vehicle registration (istimara) renewal and traffic-fine checks are available on Absher. See also Absher Travel at King Fahd Causeway.

What Saudi’s digital ranking means for the future

Saudi Arabia is also moving away from cash. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) says electronic payments were 79% of retail payments in 2024, which beat the Vision 2030 target of 70% by 2025. The share rose to 85% in 2025.

For Indian expats, this means:

• More services are likely to move online, with fewer office visits
• Closer links between government platforms such as Absher, Muqeem and Qiwa
• Possibly faster processing for immigration and labour services

Open a digital bank account to match

If your dealings with the government are going digital, your banking can too. SNB Neo (referral link) is a digital banking app from Saudi National Bank. You can open an account and manage your money from your phone.

Related guides

• Absher Complete Guide
• Iqama & Residency — Complete Guide
• How to Open a Bank Account
• Check Huroob Status

References

1. Digital Government Authority — Saudi Arabia #1 regionally in GEMS 2025 for the 4th consecutive time (23 July 2026) — dga.gov.sa; SPA
2. ESCWA — GEMS Maturity Index 2025 report — unescwa.org (Arabic PDF)
3. SAMA — e-payments 79% of retail payments in 2024 — sama.gov.sa; 85% in 2025 — sama.gov.sa

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Government services and rankings may change.