Digital Transformation Strategy

Digital Transformation Strategy

The digital transformation strategy in the Riyadh Municipality aims to develop technical capabilities, improve its efficiency, and build a strong institutional foundation that is consistent with the basic standards of the Digital Government Authority and is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to achieve its ambitions and absorb its requirements, to contribute to the Kingdom being a pioneering model in providing digital services centered on the citizen, resident, visitor, government agencies, and the private sector.
Based on this, the Municipality has laid the strategic pillars that aim to build that foundation that works to meet the needs of the Municipality and enable it digitally by providing easy and simplified digital services that meet the aspirations and needs of beneficiaries. The strategy also focuses on providing advanced business use cases by adopting emerging technologies to contribute in business development. In addition, this will lead to empower stakeholders to make decisions by providing reliable data and a comprehensive view about Riyadh Municipality’s business services. So, the digital transformation strategy explains the vision, mission, as well as strategic plans, objectives, and related parts as digital transformation principles of the Municipality. It focuses on Developing & Improving the Municipal digital infrastructure, Unify & Improve Portals and Communication Channels, Strengthen Geospatial Dimension, Data and Decision Empowerment, Adoption of Emerging Technologies, and others. The strategy has an implementation plan as a set of projects and actions that complement and integrate into the framework of Riyadh Municipality Strategy. 

Riyadh Municipality exerted significant efforts to enhance digital transformation and adopt the “Digital-First” principle in its services and projects. The most prominent of these efforts are::

1. Launching Riyadh Spatial Portal: on January 15, 2024, the Municipality launched the new version of the spatial portal, providing accurate and up-to-date geospatial data to improve the quality of geospatial digital services and facilitate data-driven decision-making.

2. Participating in the Global Smart Cities Forum: In February 2024, the Municipality participated in the Global Smart Cities Forum hosted in Riyadh under the theme “Better Life,” presenting its digital projects and smart solutions to enhance the quality of life in the city.

3. Presenting Major Projects and Smart Solutions at the “LEAP” Technology Conference: In March 2024, the Municipality participated in the LEAP Technology Conference, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of Riyadh’s major projects and the latest smart technologies to boost Riyadh competitiveness internationally.

4. Signing partnership with Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA): On the sideline of the Artificial Intelligence Summit in September 2024, the Municipality signed an agreement with SDAIA to enhance the use of artificial intelligence in its services, aiming to improve efficiency and deliver innovative services to citizens.

These initiatives reflect Riyadh Municipality’s commitment to adopting the “Digital-First” principle, continuously developing its services to meet citizens’ needs and enhance the quality of life in the city.

Riyadh Municipality strives to anticipate the future through various efforts, including:

• Data Analysis using AI, Machine Learning, and Data Analysis Programs: A group of expert to extract insights about future trends.

• Activating Monitoring and Sensing Technologies through participating in global conferences and tracking modern technologies.

• Organizing workshops with decision-makers and experts.

• Using modeling and simulation tools to analyze future scenarios.

• Determining points of strength, weakness, opportunities and threats (Future SWOT Analysis).

• Content Analysis and Big Data Techniques.

A matter that helped in:

• Improving decision-making processes.

• Reducing risks and enhancing sustainability.

• Getting prepared for future opportunities and challenges.

• Supporting innovation and developing long-term strategies.

In 2022, the Municipality launched eight digital empowerment initiatives, aiming to transform Riyadh into a smart city with advanced electronic services.

In 2023, the Municipality achieved a milestone in digital transformation creativity, reflecting its commitment to fundamental digital transformation standards and its contribution in developing the digital governance.

These efforts align with the Digital Government Strategy (2023–2030), which outlines the Kingdom’s aspirations, vision, goals, and initiatives, guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Through these initiatives, Riyadh Municipality aims to design future scenarios for digital governance, improve the quality of life and deliver innovative services to citizens.

Vision

Modern, smart Riyadh that improves the quality of life and enhances the welfare of society

Mission

Building and developing marginal municipal business models to provide a distinct digital experience for beneficiaries and raise operational efficiency if appropriate technologies are adopted

Strategic Pillars

Strategic Objectives

Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Initiatives

1. Developing & Improving the Municipal digital infrastructure

By preparing an advanced digital infrastructure capable of keeping pace with technical development, with ease, high flexibility, and a high level of security.

2. Unify & Improve Portals and Communication Channels

By providing a distinctive and easy user experience, consistent with the secretariat’s strategy of providing quality services to the beneficiary through the trust’s applications, which suit the needs of individuals or businesses.

3. Strengthen Geospatial Dimension:

The initiative aims to reduce the number of redundant and pervasive systems across various departments and integrate with the geospatial dimension to offer a highly accurate service.

4. Enabling participation and interaction with stakeholders:

By involving beneficiaries in the secretariat’s plans and initiatives, and enhancing the level of community partnership; Opening direct channels of communication with them; To raise the quality of services and meet the needs of the population.

5. Data and Decision Empowerment

Through data processing, analysis, management, and improving the quality of its use; To be a key enabler in decision-making, to accelerate business, raise its efficiency, and achieve financial sustainability.

6. Adoption of Emerging Technologies:

Using emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, to increase the efficiency of services, to reach a sustainable smart city.

7. Digital Empowerment:

Riyadh Municipality is committed to advancing digital inclusivity and ensuring that all city residents benefit from electronic services through various initiatives and efforts:

• Launching 8 Initiatives for Digital Empowerment: Since early 2022, the municipality launched eight initiatives that aim at enhancing its digital capabilities, contributing to Riyadh’s transformation into a smart city where residents enjoy fully integrated electronic services.

• Developing the Digital Transformation and Smart Cities Strategy: This strategy aims at strengthening the municipality’s technical capabilities, increasing efficiency, and building an institutional model aligned with its aspirations, ultimately improving the quality of services provided to residents.

• Optimizing Business Models for Municipal Services: The municipality succeeded in launching a number of services targeted within the digital transformation project ”Riyadh Modelling”, a matter that enables residents to easily access the municipality services electronically.

• Using AI Techniques for Municipal Control: Artificial intelligence technologies have been employed to monitor and address urban visual distortions, and waste dumping, in a matter that enhances the city’s quality of life.

• Increasing the Number of Electronic Service Beneficiaries: The municipality has achieved a 53% increase in the number of users benefiting from its electronic services, a matter that expand the scope of benefiting from these services.

• Launching Investment Opportunities for Off-Street Public Parking: On November 24, 2024, the municipality announced the first phase of investment opportunities for off-street public parking in Riyadh, aiming to enhance mobility and providing innovative and sustainable solutions.

• Winning Three Global Customer Experience Awards: On November 24, 2024, the municipality achieved global recognition by winning three awards at the International Customer Experience Awards (ICXA 2024) in London, reflecting its commitment to improving customers’ digital service experiences.

• Participating in the Saudi Mega Projects Conference: On May 14, 2024, the municipality participated as an official sponsor at the Saudi Mega Projects and Middle East Conference 2024, highlighting its efforts in managing major projects through digital transformation, business intelligence, and data analysis.

• Signing MoU with “SDAIA” to Employ Modern Technologies: On September 10, 2024, the municipality signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to develop the operations of the Municipality and improve care level of beneficiaries by delivering automated services through innovation and employment of advanced technologies.

Through these efforts, Riyadh Municipality strives to leave no one behind in the journey of digital transformation, offering inclusive electronic services that meet the needs of all city residents.

Alignment with the national development strategy

Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Strategy is aligned with the National development strategy (Vision 2030) by aligning the strategic objective of “improvement of the urban landscape.” The following objectives are aimed at operationalizing the strategic objective:

• “Providing advanced business use cases by adopting emerging technologies and encouraging innovation to develop the municipal sector”.

• “Providing an interactive environment and digital channels for residents to raise their participation and take their suggestions regarding municipal services”.

Alignment with national digital development strategy.

The Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Strategy is aligned with the National Digital Government strategy. The alignment of the individual projects and initiatives is ensured through close coordination and cooperation with the Digital Government Authority and the active role of the Municipal Coordinating CIO Technical Committee.

Alignment with the sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Various projects are included in the Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Strategy’s Action plan, such as in areas related to urban sustainability, smart infrastructures, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the environment.

Legal Framework

Riyadh Municipality is committed to implementing regulations and legislation to organize and develop municipal services in Riyadh. These regulations cover various areas, including licenses, construction, public health, and safety. The Municipality works on enforcing these regulations to provide high-quality municipal services. It also places great emphasis on urban planning to achieve sustainable and balanced development in Riyadh, implementing plans and strategies aimed at improving residents’ quality of life and developing infrastructure and public services.

The main legislation to support the digital service provision is adopted on the national level, such as Digital Identification (eID), Electronic Signatures and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Electronic Communication Legislation, Electronic Commerce Legislation, Electronic Procurements, Privacy and Data Protection Legislation, Cybersecurity Legislation, Freedom of Information Regulations, Open Data Regulations, Data Interoperability Regulations, Data Policies Regarding Data Exchange, Data Management and usage policies, and others. These legislations and regulations are implemented on the local level (for example, the Freedom of Information). The local regulations adopted local regulations that are in line with national legislation and regulations.

eParticipation

An eParticipatory strategy is adopted by the Municipality. This is based on enhancing the systematic behavior of all members of society through their participation and open the way for the exchange of ideas, development proposals and initiatives in line with the objectives of the Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Strategy. Specifically, the following objective “Providing an interactive environment and digital channels for residents to raise their participation and take their suggestions regarding municipal services”, Whereas This participation takes the form of consultations, surveys, feedback, open data, social media and others. A portal was launched Common Development And Creativity to share participatory comments and suggestions from citizens with Riyadh Municipality.  These include creative ideas, comments, and suggestions about joint development and creativity in areas like justice, law, labor, social development, and innovation in areas like the environment, agriculture, and trade.  Referring to the keenness of Riyadh Municipality to serve the residents of the city, the Riyadh Municipality has created “مدينتي My City” Mobile App. In order to provide the latest methods that contribute to the delivery of communications to the Riyadh Municipality.

Social Media Policies: A New Vision for Digital Transformation in the Kingdom
With the rapid pace of digital transformation in the Kingdom, social media has emerged as one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving fields in terms of methods and strategies. This evolution poses a challenge for policymakers, but at the same time, it offers valuable opportunities to enhance citizens' participation digitally. The innovative technologies and digital tools used in social media platforms provide significant potential, despite the associated challenges and risks.

Government Social Media Channels
All government entities in the Kingdom operate official social media pages to ensure direct communication with citizens and businesses. These pages can be followed to access reliable and up-to-date news, participate in community discussions, share opinions, or vote in polls. Additionally, a comprehensive list is available, including links to the social media platforms of all government entities, making them easily accessible.

Guidelines for Using Social Media
To promote a culture of community engagement, the Kingdom has established guidelines for using electronic participation tools, including social media, by government entities.
These guidelines are the result of collaborative efforts between the Digital Government Authority, various government entities, academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society. They serve as a framework to support government entities in effectively utilizing engagement tools and enhancing communication with citizens and the broader community.

For more information, please visit the following link.

The e-secretariat participates widely across social media

• Riyadh Municipality on X

• Riyadh Municipality on Facebook

• Riyadh Municipality on YouTube

• Riyadh Municipality on LinkedIn

• Riyadh Municipality on Snapchat

Open data

“Enabling technical integration between the government and private sectors to provide data and facilitate services” is one of the strategic objectives of Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Strategy that’s enabled Riyadh Municipality to provide open data for all its visitors through an open library portal that contains several types of data in multiple formats which facilitate processing and reuse, in order to enhance transparency and encourage e-participation.

Smart cities

The Digital Transformation Strategy of Riyadh Municipality and Smart City Initiatives

The digital transformation strategy of Riyadh Municipality has laid the foundation for launching smart city initiatives through one of its key objectives: "Providing advanced use cases for operations by adopting emerging technologies and promoting innovation to enhance the municipal sector." Some of these initiatives have already been implemented, showing positive results and impacts, while efforts to develop innovative solutions for further progress continue. For more information about the Smart Cities Initiatives, please visit the following link.

Emerging technologies

The Municipality has invested in Emerging Technologies  and Modern Technologies in developing its business system and services, such as using the Internet of Things to control irrigation sensors, analyze sensor data, and rebuild proactive plans to confront challenges. 

Riyadh Municipality adopted artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across various domains, observing the ethical principles of AI issued by Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). Key applications include:

1.  

   1. Inspection and Maintenance of the Suspension Bridge: The municipality used a robot equipped with a 360-degree camera to shoot tension cables and ensure their soundness, in addition to load and vibrations analysis using AI to verify the bridge’s resilience against environmental factors and traffic flow.

   2. Stormwater Drainage Network Monitoring: The municipality introduced advanced robots and smart technologies to inspect stormwater drainage systems. These robots provide precise 3D images with a 360-degree angle, analyze data using AI to determine the problems and proactively treat them.

   3. Municipal Control: AI technologies are employed in municipal control to detect urban visual distortions through aerial images, such as dumping construction wastes in residential areas, contributing to the enhancement of the city’s urban aesthetics.

   4. Partnership with “SDAIA”: The municipality signed a memorandum of understanding with SDAIA to develop its operations and improve service delivery by automating processes and integrating cutting-edge technologies in urban and environmental fields.

These initiatives reflect Riyadh Municipality’s commitment to deploy modern technologies and AI to improve the quality of services provided to residents while enhancing sustainable urban development in the city.

Cloud Computing

The Riyadh Municipality has been at the forefront of embracing and adopting modern technologies to enhance the efficiency of digital services for Riyadh’s residents. Cloud computing plays a crucial role in providing, developing, and delivering technological resources on demand, improving service accessibility by making the municipality’s electronic services available online to citizens and residents anytime and from anywhere.

In compliance with the Digital Government Authority's directives for government entities to achieve digital transformation, the Riyadh Municipality has undertaken several projects to shift from traditional IT infrastructure to cloud-based infrastructure. This transition has led the Riyadh Municipality to rank first in the 2024 Digital Transformation Index among the 13 regional municipalities in Saudi Arabia and to compete at the innovation stage for the eighth position across all government sectors and ministries.

The Riyadh Municipality recognizes the significant potential of cloud computing in reducing IT infrastructure costs. By leveraging this technology, the municipality lowers financial expenses related to hardware maintenance, data centers, and energy consumption, while streamlining the integration of computing systems and core tools to improve operational efficiency and simplify administrative processes.

Additionally, cloud computing enhances data protection and privacy through advanced security encryption technologies and modern access control methods such as two-factor authentication (2FA), which helps prevent cyber threats. Cloud solutions also enable reliable system backups, ensuring the protection of sensitive information. Furthermore, cloud technology facilitates big data processing, empowering decision-makers with data-driven insights for more effective governance.

Cyber Security

The Municipality has adopted specific actions and policies regarding cybersecurity. These include authorized digital certificates, as the Riyadh Municipality e-portal is using one of the best international companies in this field, the DigiCert Company.  It also employs Secure Socket Layer (SSL), which provides high confidentiality to information through encrypting them. The information stored in the databases is also encrypted. Managing passwords with high restrictions to secure access and other actions of cybersecurity.

Digital Identity E-Identity  (e-ID)

The Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Strategy focuses on the reuse of the eGovernment key enablers developed on the national level, such as Digital Identity, Digital Signatures and Public Key Infrastructure, Interoperability and Shared Government Data Exchange, ePayment Channels, Digital Post, etc. As this is stated in one of the strategic objectives which is “Enabling technical integration between the government and private sectors to provide data and facilitate services”, Riyadh Municipality had reused the National Single Sign-On system as a digital ID for their beneficiaries to access the municipality services.

Building Capacity

One of the success criteria for Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Strategy was focusing on “Technical empowerment of Riyadh municipality’s employees” by raising their digital capabilities and skills in the areas of digital transformation, innovation, emerging technologies, and smart cities. In order to build a capable team from different deputyships to interact effectively with digital transformation goals and objectives.

Mobile Applications

The Riyadh Municipality’s Digital Transformation Strategy focuses on developing the most convenience interactive channels such as Mobile Applications for their beneficiaries, In accordance to the following strategic objectives:

1- “Providing an interactive environment and digital channels for residents to raise their participation and take their suggestions regarding municipal services”.

2- “Meeting the aspirations and needs of beneficiaries by improving services and improving their experience”.

Hence, The Municipality develops and uses mobile applications to make interaction with the portal easy, flexible and efficient. For example, “مدينتي My City” mobile application enables the citizen to communicate anytime with the Riyadh Municipality Emergency Center in order to provide the latest methods that contribute to the delivery of communications to the Municipality.

Conclusion