Qatar emerges as MENA AI leader in global Government Readiness Index 2025

Doha, Qatar: In the rapidly evolving global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, Qatar is emerging as a regional frontrunner in the Middle East and...

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.

Regionally, Qatar sits in the fifth position, and its global ranking places it in the upper-middle tier worldwide, outperforming several OECD nations and demonstrating the effectiveness of its top-down, state-led AI strategy.

With an overall score that reflects strategic investments in infrastructure, governance, and public sector innovation, Qatar’s performance underscores its ambition to transition from an energy-based economy to a knowledge-driven digital hub powered by AI.

Qatar’s strongest pillar in the Index is Policy Capacity, where it earned an impressive 80.50 score, ranking high alongside global leaders such as the United Kingdom, Egypt, and Serbia.

This reflects the nation’s proactive approach to articulating a clear, forward-looking AI vision, likely anchored in its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and reinforced by high-level governmental coordination. The strategy positions AI as a cross-cutting enabler for economic diversification, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030.