RIYADH — The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs is reportedly violating the Cabinet order to host all online services and websites on a national service provider. A source reported the ministry was hosting its website on a service provider from outside the Kingdom. The head of electronic transactions program spoke to the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Abdullatif Al-Asheikh regarding the violation. In response, Al-Asheikh gave the ministry a duration of one month to change its e-service provider to another national host, said the source. The source added the head of the program clarified that all government, quasi-government and national companies are not allowed to host their websites and e-services on a non-national service provider. The reason behind the regulation is to enhance the national economy and protect national databases from theft. — SG
