SMART GOVERNANCE AND DIGITAL SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES IN SAUDI ARABIA: A FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

Currently, a widespread consensus has formed across the global smart governance field to support the upgrading of public values. This study takes Saudi Arabia as its research setting, focusing on the core theme of smart governance empowering digital sustainable transformation. After sorting out Saudi Arabia’s local policy background, this study notes that in the rapidly digitizing context where environmental, social, and economic transformations overlap, existing research has long lacked adequate examination of the link between smart governance and digital sustainability policies. To address this gap, this study constructs a Saudi Arabia-specific conceptual framework that integrates four major domains. It also puts forward supporting research propositions, measurement indicators, quantitative research methods, and policy recommendations. The core logic of the framework is as follows: the six dimensions of smart governance positively influence the five dimensions of digital sustainability policies; digital sustainability policies act as a mediator connecting smart governance and sustainable digital transformation; institutional readiness and stakeholder participation function as moderating variables that strengthen the implementation of the aforementioned policies. This set of research outputs can be used by researchers and policymakers to support assessments of whether Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation aligns with its long-term national development goals.