Mobile internet usage in Saudi Arabia - statistics & facts

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have the highest mobile internet penetration rates within the MENA region and worldwide. Saudi Arabia is considered a sector leader when it comes to digitalization, as it’s one of the top digitally prepared countries worldwide. This is supported by the governments’ investments in developing the digital infrastructure, paving the way for the Saudi digital economy. With high digital literacy, the kingdom ranked as one of the top five countries in the MENA region in terms of mobile internet user penetration, closely behind Qatar.

Telecom market in Saudi Arabia

In line with Saudi’s 2030 vision, a strategic framework to diversify the kingdom’s economy and reduce reliance on oil, investing in network infrastructure such as 5G core technology and cloud solutions is a high priority. This would aid the digital transformation across various sectors, such as manufacturing, health, transportation, and logistics. Along with the UAE, Saudi Arabia had the highest share of 5G service adoption in the MENA region. The telecom market is serviced by Saudi brands STC, Mobily, and Zain KSA, among others. STC had the highest brand value among other Middle Eastern telecommunication brands. .

Mobile internet usage

Saudis spend, on average, a considerable amount of time using the internet via their mobile phones. Most of the time spent online is dedicated to social media browsing. However, mobile internet usage is not restricted to social media, with mobile commerce gaining popularity. A substantial share of internet users turned to their mobile phones for online purchases on a weekly basis. Saudi Arabia is considered one of the top markets for mobile apps worldwide, with consumer spending exceeding that of Italy, Thailand, and Spain to name a few.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Jan 10, 2024

Key insights

Number of mobile broadband connections per 100 inhabitants in Saudi Arabia
122.52
Mobile internet usage penetration in Saudi Arabia by 2024
93.18%
Number of smartphone users in Saudi Arabia by 2024
34.29m
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