Saudi Arabia Shuts Down Over 200 Government Websites to Advance Digital Reform

Cairo: Saudi Arabia has deactivated 236 official digital government platforms as part of a sweeping reform aimed at streamlining public services and accelerating digital transformation, according to the kingdom’s Digital Government Authority (DGA).

The move, detailed in the DGA’s 2024 annual report, is part of a broader effort to consolidate and modernize government services by reducing the number of fragmented portals. The goal is to bring the total number of government platforms down to 581, thereby simplifying digital access and enhancing service quality.

This initiative is a key component of the kingdom’s digital transformation agenda, which emphasizes efficiency, consistency, and user-friendly design. At the heart of the reform is the implementation of a unified design system known as the “Platform Code,” built on a standardized digital design library. This system ensures consistency across government portals and reduces the inefficiencies caused by disparate digital interfaces.

According to the report, the “Platform Code” has already improved the user experience by saving time and effort, while enabling government entities to function more efficiently within a cohesive, standards-driven digital framework.

The DGA stated that the platform consolidation programme is central to strengthening the governance of government digital services and creating an integrated, citizen-centric digital environment in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.