Exceptional Digital Prowess of Gulf countries

The index underscores the efficiency of GCC nations in 5 main international indices
It highlights important efforts to bolster digitalisation throughout the area
Excessive averages have been recorded in numerous indicators, positioning Gulf nations on high rating throughout all indices.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations ranked excessive on the GCC E-performance index, displaying distinctive efficiency in digitalisation throughout the area. Orient Planet Analysis, in collaboration with Abdul Kader Al Kamli, Data and Communications expertise (ICT) Skilled and Unbiased Researcher, launched the GCC E-Efficiency Index 2023, an evaluation that amalgamates key international indicators to measure digital efficiency of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. This index assesses knowledge from 5 outstanding international benchmarks, together with the World Expertise Competitiveness Index (GTCI), Community Readiness Index (NRI), Authorities AI Readiness Index (GAR), World Innovation Index (GII) and UN E-Authorities Improvement Index (EGDI).

The ICT sector within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations is poised for substantial enlargement and development within the coming years. The outlook for the sector within the area seems optimistic, propelled by numerous components reminiscent of digital transformation, good metropolis initiatives, cybersecurity measures, innovation, cloud computing, e-commerce, synthetic intelligence (AI) and robotics. The dedication of governments within the area to diversify their economies, coupled with the growing tech-savviness of the inhabitants, creates a conducive surroundings for continued development. This dedication, mixed with the progressive applied sciences, units the stage for a dynamic and thriving ICT panorama within the GCC nations.

One outstanding development is the growing give attention to digitalisation and good cities. Governments throughout the GCC area, reminiscent of these within the UAE and KSA, are closely investing in good infrastructure, utilising superior applied sciences just like the Web of Issues (IoT), Synthetic Intelligence (AI) and massive knowledge analytics, to reinforce city residing, streamline providers and enhance general effectivity. This push in direction of good cities is anticipated to revolutionise numerous industries, together with healthcare, transportation and power, making a extra related and technologically superior surroundings.

One other key development within the GCC area’s ICT sector is the rising significance of cybersecurity. Because the area turns into extra digitally interconnected, the danger of cyber threats and assaults rises. Governments and companies are recognising the necessity to put money into strong cybersecurity measures to safeguard delicate knowledge and important infrastructure. This consists of the adoption of superior cybersecurity applied sciences, the event of expert cybersecurity professionals and the implementation of complete methods to detect and reply to cyber threats. The emphasis on cybersecurity is crucial to sustaining belief in digital transactions, defending nationwide safety and sustaining the expansion of the digital financial system within the area.

The third important development in the way forward for the ICT sector within the GCC area is the rise of 5G expertise. The deployment of 5G networks is gaining momentum, providing sooner and extra dependable connectivity. This expertise is anticipated to catalyse improvements reminiscent of augmented actuality, digital actuality and the Web of Issues on an unprecedented scale. With elevated bandwidth and low latency, 5G will play a vital function in supporting good purposes, autonomous autos and different rising applied sciences. Governments and the telecom sector are investing closely within the improvement and deployment of 5G infrastructure, anticipating its transformative influence on numerous sectors, together with healthcare, training and manufacturing. Total, these developments collectively form a dynamic and promising future for the ICT sector within the GCC area.

Dr Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, Orient Planet Group, stated: “The GCC nations confirmed distinctive efficiency in digitalisation efforts with nations rating extraordinarily effectively within the GCC E-Efficiency Index 2023. Nations within the area have achieved important development, particularly within the ICT sector, owing to the rise in 5G expertise, which has facilitated sooner and dependable connectivity. Moreover, the growing significance of cybersecurity has additionally pushed authorities and personal organisations to implement very important measures to make sure knowledge safety, because the area is getting extra digitally related.”

He added: “Because the ICT sector is positioned to result in substantial development and transformation within the area, we are able to witness upcoming developments reminiscent of speedy digitalisation and institution of good cities. There was a big rise in investments in superior applied sciences just like the Web of Issues (IoT), Synthetic Intelligence (AI) and massive knowledge analytics. Leveraging such applied sciences can improve city residing, whereas good cities, on this regard, have the potential to revolutionise numerous industries, starting from healthcare to the power sector. Such developments throughout the area can contribute in direction of constructing a extra sustainable and technologically developed financial system.”

Abdul Kader Al Kamli, ICT professional and Unbiased Researcher, stated: “The GCC E-Efficiency Index measures the place of GCC nations in 5 key international indices, particularly focussing on the expansion of the ICT sector and efforts in driving digitalisation. The GCC nations have fared extraordinarily effectively within the index; with the UAE main in all 5 indices. The GCC area has been constantly dedicated to fostering digitalisation, which is clear in its efforts to speculate closely within the improvement and deployment of 5G infrastructure.”

Al Kamli added: “The UAE has ranked first in all indices adopted by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. These nations have been making great efforts in boosting their digital efficiency and technological capabilities by numerous initiatives and elevated investments within the ICT sector. There was an elevated emphasis on the important thing function of science and expertise, RDI capability constructing and establishing an enhanced NIS system throughout the area. Moreover, the arrival of 5G expertise and the efforts of the governments to embrace and deploy it reveals a fantastic potential for development within the upcoming yr.”

The GCC E-Efficiency Index for 2023, calculated by averaging the scores on the 5 worldwide indicators, recorded the UAE securing the highest spot with a mean of 65.43 factors. Following carefully behind is Saudi Arabia with a mean ranking of 58.34 factors and Qatar with 55.22 factors. Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait additionally recorded important development within the GCC E-Efficiency Index, attaining a mean ranking of 52.46, 52.05, 49.15 factors, respectively.

Saudi Arabia excels within the analysis and improvement pillar, rating first within the Arab world and twentieth globally. The UAE follows carefully, rating second within the Arab world and thirty fourth globally in the identical pillar. These rankings showcase the area’s dedication to fostering innovation and technological development.

The GTCI 2022 evaluates nations’ capacities to foster, entice and retain expertise, that includes 175 cities throughout 133 nations throughout all revenue teams. In accordance with the report, the UAE excels in expertise attraction, pushed by its excellent employment insurance policies.

This 2022 version of NRI, focussed on the youthful generations, or ‘digital natives’, and their function in shaping the world because it strikes in direction of a extra digital age. The report analyses the readiness of 131 nations primarily based on their performances in 4 core pillars: Know-how, Individuals, Governance and Impression. The UAE demonstrates power in all pillars, notably excelling within the folks class.

GAR 2022 gauges the mixing of AI in enhancing public providers, evaluating nations primarily based on 39 indicators spanning authorities, expertise and knowledge and infrastructure sector. This yr’s version ranked 181 nations on their authorities’s readiness to implement AI within the supply of public providers to residents.

The GII 2023 scrutinises innovation efficiency of 132 nations, monitoring international innovation developments in seven classes: establishments, human capital and analysis, infrastructure, market sophistication, enterprise sophistication, information and expertise outputs, and artistic outputs, totalling 80 indicators. On this version, the UAE carried out higher than high-income group averages in enterprise sophistication, market sophistication, human capital and analysis, infrastructure and establishments.

Lastly, the EGDI ranks 193 UN member nations assessing how a rustic is utilizing data expertise to reinforce entry and inclusion of individuals. The report measures three vital dimensions of e-government – provision of on-line providers, telecommunication connectivity and human capability. Dubai secured the fifth place worldwide and first within the Arab world, which was decided by analysing 86 indicators.

By way of different indices, the Frontier Applied sciences Readiness Index 2022 by UNCTAD ranks 166 nations primarily based on expertise and innovation capabilities. The UAE leads the Arab world, rating thirty seventh globally, adopted by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.