Overview

Saudi Arabia enjoys strong domestic demand for IT products and services. In 2009, IT spending in the Kingdom reached an estimated SR 22.3 billion and is expected to reach SR 37.1 billion by 2013. Although the economic downturn has brought about a slowdown in growth for 2009 and 2010, the Saudi IT market is expected to outperform that of most countries in the Middle East.

If developed effectively, Saudi Arabia's large young population and the wide availability of investment capital can become powerful resources on which to build sustainable, export-oriented IT industries. The Kingdom can focus on developing select areas within the IT services arena, such as business process outsourcing and localization services, and high-tech manufacturing industries, such as semiconductor-centric industries, that optimally utilize the country's strengths and provide the best opportunities.

This CITC IT Forum aims to spur discussion on the challenges and opportunities encountered in developing the IT industry in Saudi Arabia. It will provide a platform for IT policy makers, industry pioneers, technology thought leaders, and IT end users to assess the current state of IT in Saudi Arabia, examine the challenges they face, and analyze opportunities for the future.