Qatar among economies pushing AI frontier, World Bank report shows
<p>Doha, Qatar: Qatar has emerged among a select group of economies making significant strides in artificial intelligence (AI), underscoring the country’s growing readiness to harness the technology for productivity, innovation and economic diversification, according to the World Bank Group’s newly released World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence.</p> <p>Released…
Doha, Qatar has emerged as one of the leading economies in artificial intelligence (AI) development, according to the World Bank Group's latest World Development Report, The Promise of Artificial Intelligence. The report examines how AI is transforming economies and evaluates countries' readiness to leverage the technology through infrastructure, skills, data, computing power, and supportive institutions.
Qatar joins a distinguished group of nations, including Singapore, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates, recognized for their advanced AI capabilities. The report highlights Qatar's commitment to digital transformation and AI adoption across various sectors, such as government services, healthcare, education, research, and business.
Strong digital connectivity, cybersecurity infrastructure, investments in research and education, and a focus on talent attraction have contributed to Qatar's growing AI prowess. The country is also working to establish robust domestic research and innovation capabilities to fully capitalize on AI's potential.
The World Bank notes that AI can significantly boost productivity and improve public services, particularly in developing economies. In developing countries, 16.2 percent of jobs could see meaningful productivity gains from AI, compared to 18.7 percent in high-income countries. However, about 4.5 percent of jobs in low- and middle-income economies face a risk of automation from generative AI, whereas 14.2 percent of jobs in high-income countries are at risk.
Qatar's strategic position in the Gulf region, characterized by advanced digital infrastructure, investments in research and development, and a growing AI talent pool, positions it among the better-positioned emerging economies for AI adoption. While the report acknowledges the potential benefits of AI, it also cautions that countries must invest in essential elements such as reliable electricity, high-quality connectivity, skilled workers, accessible data, and effective governance to fully harness the technology's potential for economic growth.
Written by urgent.news from The Peninsula Qatar Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
