Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Saudi Arabia sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the specifics of Saudi Arabia sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 58.4

Saudi Arabia is a member of the UN, WTO, World Bank, IMF, G20, OPEC, OIC, League of Arab States, GCC (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf), ICAO, IMO, recently joined the Hague WIPO system and regularly hosts international venues (for example, UNIDO in 2025). The Saudi legal system is Islamic law (Sharia), with priority given to national legislation and Sharia.

International law and conventions work only after their special "implementation" and do not have direct priority over the decisions of the king, the shura and Sharia norms. If international norms contradict Sharia, the local norm applies. The system is as centralized as possible, based on absolute monarchy and stable political control.

Over the past two years, there has been a significant increase in the indicator of political stability (index - 0.21 in 2023, the maximum improvement in GPI), a decrease in internal conflicts against the background of the social and economic reforms of Vision 2030, without signs of a political crisis or competing elites.

In 2023, the WGI (World Bank) Government Effectiveness index is approximately the 62nd percentile (the exact value for 2025 is updated annually, the range of recent years is 61-65%). In 2024-2025, EGDI (e-Government Development Index) is ranked 31st in the world, with a very high level of digitalization, and all basic services are available online (services through the Absher portal; EGDI is 0.7970).

According to the Edelman Trust Barometer 2025, the level of trust in the national the government and the leader (king/Crown Prince) — 87% (the best indicator in the world), high optimism for Vision 2030, citizens consider the leader to be the guarantor of stability and the future.

In 2025, large US facilities are operating on the territory: Prince Sultan Air Base, warehouses and headquarters, about 2-3 thousand American soldiers are stationed; there is a small military presence of GCC allied countries, but the KSA does not have control over the bases - they operate under bilateral agreements with the United States; there are no other permanent foreign bases.

Saudi Arabia has not ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC, does not fall under the jurisdiction of transnational criminal courts; participates in international arbitration and commercial arbitration only in special cases and contracts, criminal higher cases are considered exclusively within the country.

A tightly centralized system of government: all key decisions are personally made by the king and the Crown Prince, the Council of Ministers and the shura have only advisory powers; regional governors are appointed by the king, there is no federalism or autonomy. There is no official parliamentary control or transparency of the security services.

Supervision is carried out only within the executive branch (the king and the Council of Ministers), there is no public control, activity reports are not published, there is no civil or judicial control over intelligence, which corresponds to the model of closed monarchies.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, the coverage is 98%.

Economic sovereignty — 82.1

GDP per capita by PPP — $61,900–$71,243 (2024-2025, World Bank, IMF, Trading Economics). Sovereign gold and foreign exchange reserves — $410-437 billion (2025, as of January/July), provide more than 21 months of imports. Government debt — 29.9–31% of GDP (2024-2025, CEIC, Trading Economics, NDMC).

Saudi Arabia imports about 80% of food products, food security is ensured through the diversification of imports, agricultural programs, hydroponics, modern technologies, strategic reserves; some of the fresh products are produced independently (milk, eggs, vegetables, dates).

Full oil autonomy/gas (export and own needs); energy transition is a priority: by 2030, 50% of electricity is planned from renewable sources (by 2025, active construction of solar/wind power plants, the largest hydrogen project, absolute export capacity).

Oil reserves — more than 267 billion barrels (2nd place in the world); significant gas reserves; mineral resources - $2.5 trillion as of 2025 (phosphate, lithium, copper, gold, rare earths, uranium, silver, etc.). There are no large natural sources; the main water is desalination, deep artesian wells.

Reserves — the world's largest desalination capacity, more than 8 million cubic meters/day; critically dependent on hydraulic engineering and infrastructure modernization. The entire payment and clearing system is centralized: Saudi Payments, SAMA, and national processing platforms (mada, SADAD, SARIE, and eSARIE) dominate intrabank and retail settlements. Saudi Royal dominates: in 2025, more than 93% of all domestic settlements and deposits are in SAR; foreign currency is used only for cross-border/external transactions.

The only issuing center is SAMA (Saudi Central Bank), which fully controls the issue of riyal, sets credit and monetary policy, ensures the stability of the currency and the system, key rates and liquidity are regulated by national decisions.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%

Technological sovereignty — 67.3

Research and development expenditures — 0.56% of GDP (2023, World Bank). The long-term goal of the strategy until 2040 is 2.5% of GDP. National import substitution and industrialization programs (Vision 2030, industrial cluster) have been created, local production facilities for IT, medical equipment, telecom and robotics are being actively built; massive import substitution in electronics and software is underway, but high dependence still remains in most areas.

Higher education coverage (gross enrollment ratio) — 73.75% (2022, World Bank): almost three quarters of the relevant age group study at universities; leading in GCC and the Middle East.

Internet penetration — 99.0% of the population (Digital 2024, Statista), mobile Internet — 99.1%; one of the most digitalized GCC countries. Saudi Cloud National cloud, Absher digital platforms (all public services), Tawakkalna, Seha, Madrasati for education; all services are of national architecture, but some of the technologies are foreign.

The dependence on high-tech imported items is high — 80-90% of specialized equipment and component base (chips, software, automotive equipment, appliances) are imported from the USA, EU, China, Japan, South Korea.

Thanks to Vision 2030, localization is increasing: by 2030, >30% of high-tech products will be locally produced. 95% of public services are available electronically — through Absher and other platforms, digital identity card, full integration with banks and departments; Kingdom is in the top 40 of the UN EGDI.

Dozens of programs and local clusters have been launched for pharma, agricultural biotechnologies and genetics; more than 10% of pharmaceuticals are localized, agrobiotech has its own developments (including drought-resistant varieties), export projects are present, but the leading technologies and reference laboratories are foreign.

Large pilot assembly lines for industrial and service robots (NEOM, Aramco, SABIC), educational and integration centers; the absolute technical base is imported, but the share of integration is growing (service, medical, logistics solutions).

Significant lag: there is no mass in-house production of chips/microelectronics, the key component base (chips, FPGA, OS, controllers) is purchased from foreign manufacturers. A bid is being made to buy out shares and "localization through assembly" in 2025-30, but the share of domestic products does not exceed 1-2%.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 93% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 69.8

Saudi Arabia is the official leader in international cybersecurity rankings: 1st place globally (IMD, ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024-2025), national CERT — National Cybersecurity Agency (NCA). The country is recognized as a business model at ITU and has trained more than 9,600 specialists in 2025 alone.

There are at least 5 active national Internet exchange offices (IXPs) - the largest are SAIX (in Diriyya and Jeddah), centr3 (which has evolved into a hub with 400GE ports) and others. The infrastructure covers all major regions, supports national traffic exchange and reduces delays. More than 90% of the media content is in Arabic.

All state-owned and key private media outlets are published primarily in Arabic; a policy of supporting the national language has been launched, and bilingual projects (Arabic + English) are being launched for business and international audiences.

Some of the services (CDN, cloud, social networks, software) are implemented on the basis of BigTech infrastructure (Google, Microsoft, AWS), but Saudi Arabia is striving for technological independence: it localizes the cloud (Saudi Cloud), builds its own data centers, develops sovereign platforms, requires the storage of strategic and personal data inside the country, tightens control over foreign corporations.

More than 60% of TV and news content is produced by national companies (state-owned channels, large productions, private media); 40% is licensed or purchased (films, TV series, streaming). Major Vision projects and support for innovative media companies.

National services are the largest sector: Absher (public services), Tawakkalna, Seha (medicine), Madrasati (education), Saudi Cloud (cloud); there are no system OS, ERP/CRM products, the base is created on imported components with localization and customization. The coverage of digital services is 99.0%; 33.9 million Internet users (at the beginning of 2025), one of the highest proportions in the world.

The national cloud infrastructure has been developed: Saudi Cloud, centr3 data centers, local platforms for storing and processing data from government agencies, business and education; key government and critical data is stored only internally. Sovereignty is fully secured: national operators (STC, Mobily, Zain) dominate, licenses and infrastructure are controlled by the state, data transmission and storage are regulated by national laws; foreign operators are not represented, cellular networks are integrated into the national digital platform.

In 2023-2025, a new Law on the Protection of Personal Data (GDPR-like) was introduced, applied to the state and the private sector, data must be stored on the territory of the country, controlled by the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCA); significant fines for unauthorized transfer or leakage, a clear system of consent and open access of citizens to their data.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 94%.

Cultural sovereignty — 74.5

There are 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia (2025): Al-Ahsa Oasis, Al-Hijr (Madain Salih), At-Turaif (Diriyah), Historic Jeddah, Himā Cultural Area, Rock Art in the Hail Region, The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw, ‘Uruq Bani Mu'arid Protected Area. The cultural sector is a national priority: Saudi Arabia invests more than 81 billion. SAR ($22 billion) invests in culture under Vision 2030, regularly organizes global conferences, and launches major international projects in art, media, design, fashion, cinema, and gastronomy.

The National Cultural Foundation is the largest in the region. The National Cultural Awards (fifth cycle - 2025) are held annually, covering literature, music, visual arts, journalism, theatrical excellence and innovation. The state allocates awards to outstanding figures and young talents, organizes competitions and encourages culture through the Ministry.

The country retains a rich Arab, Islamic and Bedouin identity: multi-month festivals and celebrations are held, traditional crafts, music, gastronomy, calligraphy, poetry and music marathons, and unique national costumes are actively revived.

Regional cultural programs and initiatives to preserve the heritage of small ethnic and tribal groups are implemented under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture: support for linguistic and cultural projects in Hajjaz, Asir, Nejd; financing festivals, museification of traditional villages, and folk crafts. There are more than 460 museums, historical buildings, cultural centers in the country (national museums, Diriyah Gate, cultural clusters of Riyadh and Jeddah, cultural parks and dozens of festival venues), 8 UNESCO sites, several hundred national monuments and archaeological zones.

KSA participates in Expo 2025, the International Biennale, organizes exhibitions and exchange sessions with dozens of countries (USA, France, Japan, China), regularly joint conferences with UNESCO, major cross-cultural programs and gastronomic, artistic events. The state actively protects traditional crafts, music, architecture, and brands through special funds and GOST registers; dozens of elements of the intangible heritage (Saudi calligraphy, music, clothing, cuisine) have received the status of national brands with international protection through WIPO and UNESCO.

The cuisine includes Bedouin, Hajjaz, Negda, Assyrian, Western and Eastern traditions, hundreds of events to promote local food, festivals and competitions, and official recognition of 15 national gastronomic destinations. Cuisine is actively developing as an element of the country's cultural brand.

According to official data from the Ministry of Culture, at least 42% of the population participated in at least one event in 2024-2025; millions of residents are involved in cultural initiatives, hundreds of thousands are involved in state programs and professional cultural activities, high coverage among young people and women.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 97%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 71.2

HDI is 0.900 (2025), which is a very high level (2nd place in the region, 37th globally according to UNDP, World Bank). Government spending — 5.11% of GDP (2023), $52-54 billion per year; the leader in budget share among the Arab world. Adult literacy (15+) — 97.6–98%, one of the tallest in the Middle East.

PISA scores are below the OECD average: in 2022/2023, Saudi Arabia scored 70-100 points lower than the OECD average, especially in mathematics and literacy. The challenges are critical thinking and putting knowledge into practice. The share of STEM graduates is 33-36% (above the global average, leading positions among the Persian Gulf countries).

Up to 25% of educational programs are licensed/franchised by international systems (British, American, IB schools, French lyceums, international colleges), especially in large cities. The official language is Arabic, but the state supports and museums the cultures of small nations: Hajaz, Asir, Hsab, non-Saudi Bedouins, linguistic dialects and tribal traditions; conservation programs are through museums, expeditions and grants.

The number of state (and semi-state) scientific institutions is 16-18 (KAUST, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, university centers, national laboratories). National platforms (Madrasati, Absher Education, Edumail, etc.) cover >90% of all schools, universities and educational institutions; electronic services are centralized, support for distance learning is developed throughout the country.

Tens of thousands of government grants, awards, and scholarships are awarded every year; major internship programs, scholarships for scientists, students, and young professionals, individual projects for women, small nations, and expats; the Talent Program and Vision 2030 Scholarship Scheme operate.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 90%.

Military sovereignty — 78.6

Military spending is $78 billion (2025), which is 7.1–7.2% of GDP and 21% of all government spending; 5th place in the world in terms of the defense budget. The armed forces number 250,000—257,000 active military personnel, about 25,000 reservists and 24,500 military police (National Guard).

Weapons have been updated and upgraded: the main fleet is M1A2 Abrams, Bradley, BMP-3, more than 7,000 armored vehicles, modern aircraft (F-15SA, Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado), Patriot PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, drones, etc. Regular purchases and upgrades are carried out for $20+ billion/year. The share of localized weapons is 19.4% by the end of 2024, according to Vision 2030 the target is 50% by the end of the decade; now most of them are imports from the USA, France, Great Britain, China and South Korea, the share of national production is growing rapidly.

Full control over borders: military infrastructure, border troops, automatic surveillance systems, an extensive network of bases and border posts are under control; a large-scale program to modernize IT and biometrics is underway. Military reserve — up to 25,000 people, National Guard (rapid reserve deployment system), mobilization capacity; no mass conscription, professional army.

Military decisions are made sovereignly, but most of the strategic issues are being worked out with the United States, Great Britain, France, and the GCC. The US support is the largest in terms of contracts, operational independence is great, but strategic issues are coordinated with partners.

It is developing rapidly: the SAMI sector, dozens of new production facilities (combat drones, armored vehicles, small arms and missile weapons), modernization with localization with the support of Vision 2030. The share of national production has increased to 19.4% (2024), if the plans are implemented — up to 50% by 2030.

There are no nuclear weapons; the country has signed the NPT, is not recognized as a nuclear power, and has no warheads of its own. There is a national space agency (KACST), its own satellites (dual-purpose communications, surveillance); a well-developed intelligence system: General Intelligence Presidency, military and digital intelligence, data exchange with the USA, UK, France, UAE, Egypt; new space projects are regularly launched, elements of cyber intelligence are included.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and industry databases of UN/NGO — 92% coverage

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Economic development and macroeconomic stability: high GDP per capita (about $61.9–71.2 thousand), huge gold and foreign exchange reserves (~$410-437 billion), moderate government debt (~30% of GDP).

Economic diversification programs (Vision 2030) with a focus on the technology and tourism sectors are being actively implemented. A high human development index (HDI of about 0.900), one of the best indicators in the region in terms of literacy (about 98%) and higher education enrollment (about 74%).

Significant investments in education (>5% of GDP). Technological modernization: leading position in cybersecurity, advanced digital infrastructure, import substitution projects in high-tech, high degree of Internet penetration (99%). Major national software products and more than 60% of the media content are locally produced.

Military power: one of the world's largest defense budgets ($78 billion), modern weapons, and a developing national economy. defense industry (about 20% of local production), advanced intelligence and military space division.

Full control over borders, professional army and reserve. Cultural potential: 8 UNESCO sites, cultural awards and major international cultural projects, support for national identity, high involvement of the population in cultural events (about 42%).

Weaknesses. High multi-regional and technological dependence: despite efforts, import dependence in hi-tech remains at the level of 80-90%, especially in chips, microelectronics and most IT equipment.

Limitations in international law: priority to national Sharia law, limited participation in international judicial institutions (not recognized by the ICC), a rigid centralized monarchy, the absence of a formal parliament reduces transparency and democratic accountability. Environmental and resource risks: critical dependence on desalination for freshwater, climate challenges due to regional droughts and climate change.

Education: PISA scores on international tests below the OECD average, problems in critical thinking, practical training and innovation in schools, despite the high percentage of STEM graduates. The limited presence of national defense production (about 20% with growth ambitions), the absence of nuclear weapons and limited capabilities in military space, which can create external vulnerabilities in strategic autonomy.

Overall assessment. The cumulative sovereignty index of Saudi Arabia is 502 out of 700 possible points (Above the average of 71.7%), which places the country in the top 50 in the global top.

Saudi Arabia is a regional leader with powerful economic, military, cultural and technological potential, with a high degree of financial and social stability and ambitions for innovative development.

However, dependence on imports in the field of technology and weapons, limited democratic structure and climate challenges remain clear vulnerabilities that require plans for further diversification, increased transparency and sustainable development.

The sovereignty profile indicates that Saudi Arabia is an example of a sovereign state with high macroeconomic, energy, and political-management autonomy, a strategic diversification program, and reliance on cutting-edge digital solutions and powerful defense construction.

The key challenge is to further diversify, localize critical technologies, and increase institutional transparency for sustainable growth and reduce structural vulnerability to external and technological shocks.