The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing IT Governance in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Governance, Transformation, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to transform the Kingdom into a knowledge-based economy by promoting technological innovation and increasing transparency in public administration. In support of this vision, the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI), led by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), seeks to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in AI by 2030. This study explores the potential of AI to enhance IT governance within the Saudi context. Drawing on established theoretical frameworks and a structured research methodology, the paper reviews AI adoption across key sectors to contextualize its current trajectory. The analysis highlights areas where AI can improve governance mechanisms and identifies key barriers to implementation, including institutional, technical, and regulatory challenges. The study concludes with strategic recommendations to guide policymakers and practitioners in leveraging AI to strengthen IT governance across the Kingdom.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
1. Abdallah, R., Alshumayri, S., & Bukassim, L. (2025). Automated Motawif Monitoring Hajjis through the Pilgrimage Period. Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Computer and Information Technology. IEEE Link
2. Abu-Musa, A. A. (2009). Exploring COBIT Processes for ITG in Saudi Organizations: An empirical Study. International Journal of Digital Accounting Research, 9(1).
3. Accenture. (2025). Saudi Arabia transforms with data and AI. Accenture. https://www.accenture.com/us-en/case-studies/artificial-intelligence/reimagining-saudi-arabia-economy
4. Al-Baity, H. H. (2023). Artificial intelligence revolution in digital finance in Saudi Arabia. MDPI Sustainability
5. Aljijakli, M., & Akkari, N. (2025, February). Toward AI-Driven Solutions for Smart Cities in KSA. In 2025 2nd International Conference on Advanced Innovations in Smart Cities (ICAISC) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
6. Aljohni, W., Elfadil, N., Jarajreh, M., & Gasmelsied, M. (2021). Cybersecurity awareness level: The case of Saudi Arabia university students. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2021.0120334
7. Almaawi, A., Alsaggaf, L., & Fasihuddin, H. (2020). The Application of IT Governance Frameworks in Saudi Arabia: An Exploratory Study. International Journal of Computer Applications, 176(30), 40-44.
8. AlQahtani, M. S. (2023). Artificial intelligence and its influence on digital transformation, development, and productivity in Saudi Arabian organizations: A critical evaluation. EKB Journal Management System. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.21608/aja.2023.233880.1518
9. Alsaeed, K. (2022). Building an AI Workforce in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Prospects. International Journal of Computer Applications,184(47), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.5120/ijca2022922028
10. Alsharif, M. H., Al-Samman, A. M., & Alzahrani, B. (2021). Future 5G Technologies in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Opportunities. IEEE Access, 9, 10459–10471. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3050301
11. Alshehri, A. H., & Alotaibi, N. S. (2023). Prosperity and obstacles of AI in higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia. MDPI Sustainability
12. Alshehri, A., & Mulyata, J. (2024). Assessing the Potential Effects of Disruptive Technologies on Business Models: A Case of Saudi Arabia. Open Journal of Business and Management, 12(3), 45–60. SCIRP Link
13. Al-Subaie, N. A. (2025). Challenges of Successful Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Logistics Project Management at Saudi Telecom Company. Journal of Economic Administrative and Legal Sciences
14. Arrieta, A. B., Díaz-Rodríguez, N., Del Ser, J., Bennetot, A., Tabik, S., Barbado, A., ... & Herrera, F. (2020). Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI): Concepts, taxonomies, opportunities and challenges toward responsible AI. Information Fusion, 58, 82–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inffus.2019.12.012
15. Budd, J., Miller, B. S., Manning, E. M., Lampos, V., Zhuang, M., Edelstein, M., & McKendry, R. A. (2020). Digital technologies in the public-health response to COVID-19. Nature Medicine, 26(8), 1183–1192. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-1011-4
16. Calder, A. (2008). ISO/IEC 38500: the IT governance standard. IT Governance Ltd.
17. Cave, S., Coughlan, K., & Dihal, K. (2019). Scary Robots: Examining Public Responses to AI. Paladyn, Journal of Behavioral Robotics, 10(1), 291–301. https://doi.org/10.1515/pjbr-2019-0020
18. Elhajji, M., Alsayyari, A. S., & Alblawi, A. (2020). Towards an artificial intelligence strategy for higher education in Saudi Arabia. ResearchGate
19. European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation Laying Down Harmonised Rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act). Official Journal of the European Union. Link
20. Farraj, A. A. (2024). How AI Enhances Justice Administration: Comparative Analysis Between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Journal of Sharia and Law, Tanta University. Link
21. Floridi, L., Cowls, J., Beltrametti, M., Chatila, R., Chazerand, P., Dignum, V., ... & Vayena, E. (2018). AI4People - An Ethical Framework for a Good AI Society. Minds and Machines, 28(4), 689–707. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11023-018-9482-5
22. Haenlein, M., & Kaplan, A. (2019). A brief history of artificial intelligence: On the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence. California management review, 61(4), 5-14.
23. Ibrahim, N. M. H. (2024). Artificial intelligence (AI) and Saudi Arabia’s governance. Journal of Developing Societies, 40(4), 500–530. https://doi.org/10.1177/0169796X241288590
24. ISO/IEC 38507:2022. (2022). ISO. https://www.iso.org/standard/56641.html
25. Jobin, A., Ienca, M., & Vayena, E. (2019). The global landscape of AI ethics guidelines. Nature Machine Intelligence, 1(9), 389–399. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-019-0088-2
26. Kumar, R., Singh, A., & Kassar, A. S. A. (2025). Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Achieve Sustainable Public Healthcare Services in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Literature Review of Critical Success Factors. Innovations in Engineering & Technology, 15(2). ResearchGate Link
27. McCarthy, J. (1956). The inversion of functions defined by Turing machines. Automata studies, 34, 177-181.
28. Memish, Z. A., Altuwaijri, M. M., & Almoeen, A. H. (2021). The Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) vision: leading the kingdom's journey toward global leadership. Springer
29. Muafa, A. M., Al-Obadi, S. H., & Al-Saleem, N. (2024). Impact of artificial intelligence applications on healthcare delivery in Riyadh. Academic Journal of Research
30. Polok, B., & Dussin, M. (2025). AI governance in Saudi Arabia: Cultural values and ethical AI regulations in comparative perspective. Yearbook of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law Online, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1163/22112987-bja00004
31. Radwan, N., Al-Jehani, N. B., & Hawsawi, Z. A. (2021). Development of artificial intelligence techniques in Saudi Arabia: the impact on COVID-19 pandemic. Academia.edu
32. Khan, S. I. (2020). Saudi Vision 2030: new avenue of tourism in Saudi Arabia. Studies in Indian Place Names, 40(75), 2394-3114.
33. Saeed, A., Saeed, A. B., & AlAhmri, F. A. (2023). Saudi Arabia health systems: challenging and future transformations with artificial intelligence. Cureus
34. Salah, K., Rehman, M. H., Nizamuddin, N., & Al-Fuqaha, A. (2022). Blockchain for AI: Review and Open Research Challenges. IEEE Access, 10, 106783–106800. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3195698
35. Saudi Arabia’s AI ambition, and what it means for the United States. (2025). Middle East Institute. https://www.mei.edu/publications/saudi-arabias-ai-ambition-and-what-it-means-united-states
36. Shammah, A., Almuharib, H., & Aldurby, S. (2025). Ethical Considerations in AI Integration in Saudi Education Sector: A Vision 2030 Perspective. Ibn Khaldun Journal, 7(2), 55–78. Benkjournal Link
2. Abu-Musa, A. A. (2009). Exploring COBIT Processes for ITG in Saudi Organizations: An empirical Study. International Journal of Digital Accounting Research, 9(1).
3. Accenture. (2025). Saudi Arabia transforms with data and AI. Accenture. https://www.accenture.com/us-en/case-studies/artificial-intelligence/reimagining-saudi-arabia-economy
4. Al-Baity, H. H. (2023). Artificial intelligence revolution in digital finance in Saudi Arabia. MDPI Sustainability
5. Aljijakli, M., & Akkari, N. (2025, February). Toward AI-Driven Solutions for Smart Cities in KSA. In 2025 2nd International Conference on Advanced Innovations in Smart Cities (ICAISC) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
6. Aljohni, W., Elfadil, N., Jarajreh, M., & Gasmelsied, M. (2021). Cybersecurity awareness level: The case of Saudi Arabia university students. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2021.0120334
7. Almaawi, A., Alsaggaf, L., & Fasihuddin, H. (2020). The Application of IT Governance Frameworks in Saudi Arabia: An Exploratory Study. International Journal of Computer Applications, 176(30), 40-44.
8. AlQahtani, M. S. (2023). Artificial intelligence and its influence on digital transformation, development, and productivity in Saudi Arabian organizations: A critical evaluation. EKB Journal Management System. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.21608/aja.2023.233880.1518
9. Alsaeed, K. (2022). Building an AI Workforce in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Prospects. International Journal of Computer Applications,184(47), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.5120/ijca2022922028
10. Alsharif, M. H., Al-Samman, A. M., & Alzahrani, B. (2021). Future 5G Technologies in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Opportunities. IEEE Access, 9, 10459–10471. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3050301
11. Alshehri, A. H., & Alotaibi, N. S. (2023). Prosperity and obstacles of AI in higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia. MDPI Sustainability
12. Alshehri, A., & Mulyata, J. (2024). Assessing the Potential Effects of Disruptive Technologies on Business Models: A Case of Saudi Arabia. Open Journal of Business and Management, 12(3), 45–60. SCIRP Link
13. Al-Subaie, N. A. (2025). Challenges of Successful Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Logistics Project Management at Saudi Telecom Company. Journal of Economic Administrative and Legal Sciences
14. Arrieta, A. B., Díaz-Rodríguez, N., Del Ser, J., Bennetot, A., Tabik, S., Barbado, A., ... & Herrera, F. (2020). Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI): Concepts, taxonomies, opportunities and challenges toward responsible AI. Information Fusion, 58, 82–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inffus.2019.12.012
15. Budd, J., Miller, B. S., Manning, E. M., Lampos, V., Zhuang, M., Edelstein, M., & McKendry, R. A. (2020). Digital technologies in the public-health response to COVID-19. Nature Medicine, 26(8), 1183–1192. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-1011-4
16. Calder, A. (2008). ISO/IEC 38500: the IT governance standard. IT Governance Ltd.
17. Cave, S., Coughlan, K., & Dihal, K. (2019). Scary Robots: Examining Public Responses to AI. Paladyn, Journal of Behavioral Robotics, 10(1), 291–301. https://doi.org/10.1515/pjbr-2019-0020
18. Elhajji, M., Alsayyari, A. S., & Alblawi, A. (2020). Towards an artificial intelligence strategy for higher education in Saudi Arabia. ResearchGate
19. European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation Laying Down Harmonised Rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act). Official Journal of the European Union. Link
20. Farraj, A. A. (2024). How AI Enhances Justice Administration: Comparative Analysis Between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Journal of Sharia and Law, Tanta University. Link
21. Floridi, L., Cowls, J., Beltrametti, M., Chatila, R., Chazerand, P., Dignum, V., ... & Vayena, E. (2018). AI4People - An Ethical Framework for a Good AI Society. Minds and Machines, 28(4), 689–707. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11023-018-9482-5
22. Haenlein, M., & Kaplan, A. (2019). A brief history of artificial intelligence: On the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence. California management review, 61(4), 5-14.
23. Ibrahim, N. M. H. (2024). Artificial intelligence (AI) and Saudi Arabia’s governance. Journal of Developing Societies, 40(4), 500–530. https://doi.org/10.1177/0169796X241288590
24. ISO/IEC 38507:2022. (2022). ISO. https://www.iso.org/standard/56641.html
25. Jobin, A., Ienca, M., & Vayena, E. (2019). The global landscape of AI ethics guidelines. Nature Machine Intelligence, 1(9), 389–399. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-019-0088-2
26. Kumar, R., Singh, A., & Kassar, A. S. A. (2025). Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Achieve Sustainable Public Healthcare Services in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Literature Review of Critical Success Factors. Innovations in Engineering & Technology, 15(2). ResearchGate Link
27. McCarthy, J. (1956). The inversion of functions defined by Turing machines. Automata studies, 34, 177-181.
28. Memish, Z. A., Altuwaijri, M. M., & Almoeen, A. H. (2021). The Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) vision: leading the kingdom's journey toward global leadership. Springer
29. Muafa, A. M., Al-Obadi, S. H., & Al-Saleem, N. (2024). Impact of artificial intelligence applications on healthcare delivery in Riyadh. Academic Journal of Research
30. Polok, B., & Dussin, M. (2025). AI governance in Saudi Arabia: Cultural values and ethical AI regulations in comparative perspective. Yearbook of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law Online, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1163/22112987-bja00004
31. Radwan, N., Al-Jehani, N. B., & Hawsawi, Z. A. (2021). Development of artificial intelligence techniques in Saudi Arabia: the impact on COVID-19 pandemic. Academia.edu
32. Khan, S. I. (2020). Saudi Vision 2030: new avenue of tourism in Saudi Arabia. Studies in Indian Place Names, 40(75), 2394-3114.
33. Saeed, A., Saeed, A. B., & AlAhmri, F. A. (2023). Saudi Arabia health systems: challenging and future transformations with artificial intelligence. Cureus
34. Salah, K., Rehman, M. H., Nizamuddin, N., & Al-Fuqaha, A. (2022). Blockchain for AI: Review and Open Research Challenges. IEEE Access, 10, 106783–106800. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3195698
35. Saudi Arabia’s AI ambition, and what it means for the United States. (2025). Middle East Institute. https://www.mei.edu/publications/saudi-arabias-ai-ambition-and-what-it-means-united-states
36. Shammah, A., Almuharib, H., & Aldurby, S. (2025). Ethical Considerations in AI Integration in Saudi Education Sector: A Vision 2030 Perspective. Ibn Khaldun Journal, 7(2), 55–78. Benkjournal Link
Published
2025-08-10
How to Cite
Abudaqqa, F. (2025). The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing IT Governance in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 44, 24. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/19875
Section
ESI Preprints
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatma Abudaqqa
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
