What is Riyadh Open Data?

What is the concept behind open data?

In the universe of data, open data refers to data made freely available to everyone. They can be used, re-used and redistributed without restrictions and for any purpose. Different types of data may be included: public and private sector data, as well as re-use data. The later are open data transformed by users and then re-made available to everyone.

Open data is a relatively new concept. Private and public sector data have long been difficult to access, if accessible at all. The first government policies on open data appeared in 2009 after US President Barack Obama signed a memorandum establishing an Open Government Initiative. At city level, London Open Data was launched in 2010, and New York City Open Data in 2012. The two are the most famous initiators of the trend to make data freely accessible.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the first Open Government Data Initiative was introduced in 2017. It has accelerated since the launch of the Kingdom’s National Open Data Portal in 2019.

The main principles of open data are summarized below:

The four main principles of open data in international standards

001 - AccessibilityCreated with Sketch.

Availability
and access

Avoiding barriers to read, inspect and download data. It is a key driver for knowledge creation towards a better society at all levels.

Re-use and
redistribution

Facilitating data propagation from user to user with machine-readable data, thus guaranteeing higher added value.

Universal
participation

Ensuring the accessibility of data for people from unfavorable environments, with no discrimination against field of endeavor, person or group.

Transparency and accountability

Ensuring the availability of metadata with clean information disclosure, to give users more insights on how to read the data and to hold the publisher of data accountable.

What is the Riyadh Open Data Project?

The Riyadh Open Data Project has been launched by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) to offer the city an open data service aligned with international initiatives: making data open has been a growing trend worldwide since 2010 (see below). The Kingdom is precisely in line with this move and Riyadh fully intends to play a key role in it.

A long history of data collection

The RCRC has been collecting data since 1986 and a wealth of information is already available. The environment is now mature enough to enter the new era of information availability, offering its citizens immediate accessibility to any data about Riyadh.

A Project in line with Vision 2030 and Riyadh’s Strategy

This project is fully compliant with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims at reforming and modernizing the country in many areas. Open data is one of the major goals of Vision 2030’s digitalization targets.

We intend to equip Riyadh with such a web environment that the broadest range of people from anywhere around the world will be able to get all types of data in readily accessible formats.

In its mission to make Riyadh a 9-10 million people city welcoming 35 million visitors a year by 2030, the RCRC expects to improve its provision of services and increase the transparency of information to everyone. It also aims to enhance coordination and efficiencies among its departments and improve communication with stakeholders and citizens. The Open Data Portal is one of the instruments that will make it possible.

An instrument that will consolidate Riyadh’s data and enable more consistency and trust

Riyadh does not yet offer a comprehensive open data portal solution. Some city data are available across different websites at a sectoral level, but no initiative combines them all and works towards improving their consistency.

The Riyadh Open Data Project will undoubtedly contribute to increasing said consistency, benefiting everyone. It will particularly improve transparency, increasing trust towards the authorities throughout the population. These factors will contribute to developing a “good living place” image globally.

A cost-cutting project within the National Data Policy

Redirecting people to a self-service open data portal will enable the RCRC to reduce the strain on government resources regarding national data. The efforts made by our organization to open data will encourage a greater internal data-sharing culture across RCRC departments and government agencies. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is a major information technology moderator in the country that plays a key role in this transition. It is in charge of implementing the national Open Data Strategy and Policy, based on five regulations developed by SDAIA itself.

The Riyadh Open Data Project is being introduced at the perfect time within a strong background of institutional frameworks. As the RCRC has been deploying its Open Data Strategy since 2023, now is a particularly favorable context to launch the Riyadh Open Data Platform.

What is Riyadh's Open Data Strategy?

Four key objectives

The Open Data Strategy is expected to contribute to the improvement of Riyadh’s economy and quality of life in four aspects: developing a spirit of excellence and innovation, accompanying the anchoring of its new revolutionary public transportation network (Riyadh metro and Riyadh Bus) and helping younger generations find their first employment.

EXCELLENCE

DRIVE EXCELLENCE FROM RIYADH OPEN DATA
The Digital Economy is an important opportunity for the city. The Open Data will contribute to teach young generations to strive for excellence, to encourage entrepreneurship and to imagine new business ideas.

INCLUSIVENESS

CREATE MORE INCLUSIVENESS BY INTEGRATING DATA ON THE NEW PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
The public transportation system facilitates communication between people and allows for the population to mingle. The Riyadh Open Data will publish datasets suggesting its benefits, inviting the population to use it as a substitute for individual car driving.

INNOVATION

FUEL THE CITY WITH INNOVATION
Open Data will create and feed ecosystems throughout the city.
Be it R&D laboratories from Riyadh’s academic world and its branches abroad, big firms or investors, anyone with innovative ideas will be able to come onboard.

GROWTH

LET OPEN DATA BOOST 
EDUCATION AS A SOURCE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
The level of education is very high in Saudi Arabia. A significant number of women are also entering the labor market. The unemployment rate is seriously affected by the difficulty of the younger generations in finding their first job. The Riyadh Open Data will provide datasets that will help reduce this delay.

What are the international milestones behind Riyadh Open Data?

Learn about the most prominent landmarks behind the worldwide development of open data since 2007.

2013
Publication of the G8 Open Data Charter

G8 leaders sign the Open Data Charter on 18 June 2013, setting out five strategic principles that all G8 members must act upon.

2012
Another key urban Open Data Platform
New York City launches its Open Data Platform.
2010
First Open Data Platform in Europe
The Greater London Authority (GLA) launches the London Datastore.
2009
White House (Wash. DC., USA): memorandum on Government Open Data
President Barack Obama signs a memorandum establishing the Open Government Initiative under the guidance of Beth Noveck (from the Sevastopol group). [Open Government Policy | The White House (archives.gov)]
2007
Open data are born
On 7 December 2007, a group of 30 prominent figures from the digital and media worlds meet in Sevastopol (Cal. USA), led by Tim O’Reilly and Lawrence Lessig. They define public data and write the Open Data Principles.

What are the national milestones behind Riyadh Open Data?

Many KSA events have landmarked the Riyadh Open Data Project.
2023

Riyadh Open Data Strategy

2022

The Royal Court mentions Open Data as an important element within the government’s digitalization initiative

2021

The Open Data agenda is transferred to SDAIA: the Open Data Strategy is launched in August

2020

The NDMO, part of SDAIA, releases the first version of the Open Data Strategy

2019

Launch of the KSA Open Data Portal

2018
KSA Open Data is moved up the Open Data Barometer ranking
2017
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology publishes its digital strategy