Doha, Qatar: In the rapidly evolving global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, Qatar is emerging as a regional frontrunner in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), securing the 54th position out of 195 nations in Oxford Insights’ 2025 Government AI Readiness Index. This ranking highlights Qatar’s strategic commitment to AI as it transitions from an energy-based economy to a knowledge-driven digital hub.
Regionally, Qatar sits in fifth place, and its global standing places it within the upper-middle tier worldwide. Notably, it outperforms several OECD nations, illustrating the effectiveness of its top-down, state-led AI strategy. The overall score reflects strategic investments in infrastructure, governance, and public sector innovation, aligning with Qatar’s ambitions.
Among the six pillars evaluated, Qatar excelled in Policy Capacity, achieving an impressive score of 80.50—ranking it alongside global leaders like the United Kingdom, Egypt, and Serbia. This high score indicates a proactive approach to articulating a clear AI vision, which is likely anchored in the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and supported by high-level governmental coordination. AI is positioned as a cross-cutting enabler for economic diversification, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
The country also achieved a governance score of 77.50, significantly above the global average, reflecting its commitment to establishing ethical frameworks and regulatory guardrails for AI deployment. Qatar has strengthened its digital partnerships with global tech leaders, signing agreements in 2025 with Huawei and other firms to enhance domestic digital infrastructure, integrating international best practices into its national AI governance ecosystem.
In terms of AI Infrastructure, Qatar scored 53.78, placing it among the top performers in the MENA region. This achievement is partly due to substantial foreign direct investment in cloud and data center capabilities. For instance, Microsoft pledged up to $8 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with indirect benefits for neighboring digital economies, including Qatar. The focus on building sovereign compute capacity and securing access to advanced hardware, such as NVIDIA’s Blackwell chips, approved for export to Gulf allies in 2025, further positions Qatar to support homegrown AI innovation.
Qatar’s Public Sector Adoption score of 62.82 underlines its integration of AI into government services. Building on its legacy of digital transformation, evident in initiatives like the TASMU Smart Qatar Program, the state is embedding AI into urban planning, transportation, healthcare, and education. This practical approach ensures that AI delivers tangible benefits to citizens while enhancing administrative efficiency.
Despite these solid performances, the Index indicates areas for improvement in AI Infrastructure and Development and Diffusion, where Qatar scored 53.78. This pillar assesses access to compute capacity, data availability, and enabling technical systems. Although investments have been made, the Index suggests further expansion of domestic compute resources and AI-specific infrastructure would bolster long-term readiness.
Qatar’s lowest score came in Resilience, where it achieved 38.76. This suggests a need to address societal risks associated with AI, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and workforce displacement. As AI becomes more ingrained in public life, strengthening civil society engagement, risk monitoring mechanisms, and national AI safety protocols will be crucial for maintaining public trust.
Looking forward, Qatar’s participation in multilateral forums—such as the G20 Taskforce on AI and Unesco’s AI ethics initiatives—could amplify its influence in shaping Global South perspectives on responsible AI. With the 2026 AI Impact Summit in India set to spotlight development-oriented AI applications, Qatar has an opportunity to demonstrate how small, resource-rich nations can leverage AI not only for economic transformation but also for inclusive public service delivery.
In a world where AI readiness increasingly defines national competitiveness, Qatar’s 2025 performance signals that it is not merely keeping pace—but actively shaping its digital destiny.
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