Prime Highlights:
- Absher has generated over $5.3 billion in annual economic impact by moving government services online, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
- The platform is a core part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital transformation, handling millions of transactions every month and providing easier access to services for citizens, residents, visitors, and businesses.
Key Facts:
- Absher transitioned from being fully funded by the government to a self-sustaining system based on its own revenue.
- The Ministry of Interior is expanding the platform’s digital capabilities with a focus on security and preventing online fraud.
Background:
Saudi Arabia’s digital services platform, Absher, has delivered more than SR20 billion ($5.3 billion) in annual economic impact, reflecting the Kingdom’s significant strides in digital government services, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Bandar bin Mashari, assistant minister of interior for technology affairs, told Al-Eqtisadiah that the platform’s financial impact stems from the broader efficiency gains achieved through the transition from paper-based government procedures to digital services.
Mashari said that Absher was one of the first platforms to improve spending efficiency and create new ways to offer additional services.
Originally launched in 2010, Absher serves as the Ministry of Interior’s flagship digital services platform. It lets people and businesses access government services through one website and app. The platform handles civil records, passports, residency and visas, traffic and vehicle issues, and business services, reducing the need for in-person visits.
The platform has grown in economic impact from SR17 billion to SR20 billion, according to the latest ministry data. Mashari said that Absher has changed its funding from direct government support to a self-sustaining system that earns its own revenue.
The Ministry of Interior wants to improve digital services and keep online transactions safe. They are working to prevent fraud as more services go online.
Absher is used by many people in Saudi Arabia, handling millions of online transactions each month. It is key to Vision 2030, showing how digital services can boost the economy, save time, and make life easier.
