Saudi Arabia Grants Open Source Software Licenses to Government Agencies

The Saudi Arabian Digital Government Authority (DGA) has announced that it has granted open source software licences to 49 government agencies. This will increase the reusability of government software and help achieve the goal of government software regulation rules in the KSA.

The governor of the DGA Ahmed Mohammed Al Suwaiyan said in February 2022 that government open source software will contribute $1.3 billion to Saudi Arabia's digital economy between 2023 and 2026 and create 2,000 jobs.

In June 2022, the first three companies received licences to provide digital government services. The Saudi Arabian government granted temporary licences to Elm for Information Security, owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, Takamol Business Services and Thiqah, another business solutions provider.

The licences formally enable the provision of digital services in conjunction with Saudi government agencies. For example, Takamol operates Saudi Arabia's National Giving Platform, which collects charitable donations throughout the kingdom.

The government's open source software strategy was launched by the DGA in November 2021.