According to a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) research, the United Arab Emirates is leading the way in the global AI revolution and is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The report, which was unveiled at the Dubai AI Assembly during Dubai AI Week on April 23, presents the United Arab Emirates alongside Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in AI preparedness. According to the study “GCC AI Pulse: Mapping the Region’s Readiness for an AI-Driven Future,” however, the UAE’s transition from regional leader to global pioneer depends on increasing private investment, broadening its talent pool, and accelerating research and development, as the GCC countries collectively accelerate their AI ambitions.
The report’s core, the BCG 2024 AI Maturity Matrix, divides economies into four categories: Emergents, Practitioners, Contenders, and Pioneers. GCC neighbours, including Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, rank as Practitioners, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia earn their spot among 31 worldwide AI Contenders.
The UAE’s trajectory is remarkable, even if no GCC country has yet claimed the coveted Pioneer status, which is currently held by superpowers like the US, UK, and China. A strong ambition is shown by its National AI Strategy 2031, the appointment of the first AI Minister in history in 2017, and a $100 billion MGX fund for international AI investments. With 35 data centres and the highest public cloud investment per employee in the GCC ($228 per employee), the UAE’s digital infrastructure serves as a strong platform for AI advancement.
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