GCC and Artificial Intelligence

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are striving to catch up with the international community in harnessing technology and artificial intelligence (AI) amid intense global competition in this field, at a time of rapid technological advancements and fundamental economic transformations. AI is considered one of the key pillars for development, economic transformation, sustainable growth, and fostering innovation across various sectors, including healthcare, education, transportation, energy, and security.

In recent years, the GCC countries have been active in investing in technology and AI. According to PwC, AI is expected to contribute $320 billion to the Middle East economy, accounting for about 11% of its GDP by 2030. The region has taken concrete steps toward embracing the smart transformation, with national strategies in place to develop AI. Investments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar focus on AI applications in healthcare, education, media, and the financial sector.

Saudi Arabia, for instance, plans to establish a $40 billion fund to invest in AI as part of its efforts to diversify its economy, compete globally, and attract investments in data and AI, with a target of $20 billion in AI investments by 2030. Meanwhile, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain are working on deploying AI across the public sector, governance, technology, communications, industry, logistics, tourism, and financial services.

AI technologies are being integrated into government sectors in line with international standards, enhancing government services and improving the effectiveness and performance of various sectors, thus advancing the comprehensive digital transformation in the GCC countries. This will contribute to the regional and global business community, positioning the Gulf region alongside other major global tech hubs, such as Singapore and New York.