Communications Minister Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Successful Inclusion and Empowerment of Women and Youths

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, speaking yesterday here at the UN Summit of the Future, stressed that the support and empowerment of youths and women by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has led to one of the country’s greatest success stories of inclusion and empowerment.

 Alswaha pointed out that HRH the Crown Prince's vision is a source of inspiration for the Saudi people, and creates a global momentum for diversifying the economy through empowering women and the youth, as well as harnessing technology and innovation.

 In his speech at "The Hope of Digital" session, the minister said that Saudi Arabia recorded the highest percentage of women participation in the tech sector, 35% in just six years, surpassing the EU and G20 average.

 He also highlighted some inspiring stories of women empowerment and inclusion in technology in the Kingdom, including the biggest women and youth participation in programming, led by the Misk Foundation, an initiative that resulted in the training of one million women and youths through the "Saudi Codes" program, and in sending the first Muslim Arab female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station.

 Alswaha said that these successes have contributed to Saudi Arabia's ranking high in several global indices, such as the UN E-Government Development Index 2024, in which the country came fourth globally and second among the G20 countries in the digital services index.