Locations
Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Portfolio
UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States
Digital transformation is reshaping economies and societies across the Arab States, creating new opportunities for growth, innovation and public service delivery. While many countries in the region have made significant progress, advances remain uneven, and millions of people continue to face barriers to connectivity, digital skills, and access to emerging technologies.
The Arab States region holds significant untapped potential in artificial intelligence and digital transformation, but realizing it will require targeted investment in infrastructure, data and talent. The region attracts a disproportionately small share of global venture capital, with MENA drawing roughly $3.8 billion in 2025 against $469 billion in global venture funding, reflecting an opportunity to build stronger investment pipelines before capital and talent move elsewhere. Internet use across the region stands at 70%, in line with the global average, yet mobile broadband network coverage already reaches 95% of the population, pointing to a usage gap, driven by affordability and digital skills, that further investment could close. Similarly, 5G coverage remainds available to just 13% of the population and fixed broadband penetration sits at half the global average, representing a foundational layer that, once strengthened, could accelerate inclusive growth. Sector-specific digital strategies, particularly in agriculture, health, and education, remain an emerging priority relative to fintechs more mature digital footprint.
At the same time, the region is uniquely positioned to accelerate digital and artificial intelligence-driven development. Growing investments, expanding digital economies, and a new generation of innovators provide an opportunity to build more inclusive, resilient and sustainable digital ecosystems. Achieving this potential requires coordinated action across governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, and development partners.
What We Do from vision to adoption
UNDP's Regional Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Portfolio supports countries across the Arab States to help countries translate digital transformation into tangible development outcomes that advance inclusion, economic opportunity and sustainable development. The Portfolio is structured around a set of interconnected areas of work that help move digital transformation from strategy to implementation.Digital Policy and Regulation)Supporting governments to modernize and harmonize digital policy frameworks, including connectivity regulation, data governance and artificial intelligence oversight, anchored by UNDP’s Regional Digital Policy Framework (Digital Policy Framework for the Arab States | United Nations Development Programme
Digital Public Infrastructure and Connectivity Strengthening the foundational systems that enable an inclusive digital economy, including networks, data systems, digital ID, and digital financial services, while helping to close the connectivity gap that leaves an estimated 30% of the region's population unconnected.
Artificial Intelligence Governance: Supporting governments to establish trusted, accountable frameworks for artificial intelligence oversight and deployment, including national artificial intelligence deployment frameworks, regulatory guidance, and dedicated governance dialogues, to promote a responsible and rights-based adoption.
Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems Supporting Governments to accelerate the practical and responsible use of artificial intelligence deployment across priority sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and public services, through national strategies and regional deployment frameworks.
Digital Skills and Inclusion Expanding access to digital and artificial intelligence skills development across the region, with a particular focus on youth, women and underserved communities, ensuring that digital transformation leaves no one behind.
Digital SMEs and the Private Sector Supporting digital enterprises to grow, attract investment, access regional markets and contribute to sustainable economic growth and job creation.
Trade, and Port Digitalization: Applying automation, digitalization, and policy innovation to critical trade infrastructure, including the region's ports.
Regional and National Strategies: Supporting governments and regional institutions to develop and implement integrated digital transformation and artificial intelligence strategies that translate national and regional priorities into actionable roadmaps, strengthen coordination across sectors, and advance inclusive and sustainable development.
Featured Initiatives
Launched on 26 November 2025 at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Doha, the Digital Policy Framework (DPF) for the Arab States was jointly launched by UNDP, Qatar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), and Ooredoo. It is a comprehensive, evidence-based tool aimed to supporting Arab States governments design inclusive and responsible digital policy, built around three pillars:
- Networks and Connectivity, the foundation for all digital services, encompassing the telecommunications regulatory environment
- Data and Digital Public Infrastructure, trusted, secure data systems, including digital ID, data governance, and digital financial services
- Intelligent Systems and Applications, unlocking next-generation digital technologies across health, education, agriculture, and public services
A High-Level Digital & Artificial Intelligence Policy Leaders Forum (1–2 September 2026, Doha), convened with Ooredoo and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, will move the Digital Policy Framework from framework to action, introducing the proposed Regional Digital Policy Facility, a mechanism offering diagnostic assessment, benchmarking, policy and regulatory roadmap support, a Chief Digital Policy Officers Programme, and a National Leaders' Masterclass to help countries implement the Digital Policy Framework
A US$37 million regional initiative (2025–2028) addressing fragmented digital policy, weak digital public infrastructure, skills gaps, and limited Artificial Intelligence adoption, delivered through three pillars:
- Digital and Artificial Intelligence Skills Accelerator: scaling the Qatar Digital Academy's skills framework
- Digital Policies Framework workstream : Focused on intelligent systems and network infrastructure for lower- and middle-income countries
- Internet Connectivity for Digital Inclusion : Reaching the region's unconnected population
Delivered with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Qatar, Ooredoo, GSMA, and Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC)
Developed with the Arab Federation for Digital Economy as main partner and UNDP as implementing partner (indicative budget: approximately US$8 million), this initiative helps established, growth-stage digital nterprises with validated products and market traction, scale across borders and integrate into regional and global value chains. The initiative seeks to:
- Enable Policy and Regulatory Support for cross-border digital business
- Support Digital SME Accelerator and Skilling : providing mentoring, advanced digital tools, and market access support
- Ensure Investment Facilitation and Financing Readiness :Establishing a regional investment platform, investor-readiness bootcamps, and Sustainable Development Goals-aligned investment cases
A three-year regional programme led by UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) in partnership with Women in Artificial Intelligence, a global nonprofit advancing an inclusiveecosystem across more than 100 countries. The initiative will equip 100,000 women across 20 Arab States with artificial intelligence skills and entrepreneurship pathways through three integrated tracks: Capacity Building (99,000 women trained via a three-tier, Arabic-first learning pathway), Startup Acceleration and Financing (1,000 women and around 200 ventures supported through accelerator cohorts, mentorship, seed grants, and biannual Financing Exhibitions), and Policy and Data-Driven Decision Making (annual regional data reports, model policy frameworks, and national policy dialogues). The programme responds to stark gaps, women hold only 22% of artificial intelligenceI roles globally and under 14% of senior artificial intelligence executive roles, female labour force participation in the Arab States stands at 18.4%, the lowest globally, and women-led startups in the region raised US$3 million against US$774 million for men-led ventures in July 2025.
Contact
For more information, contact Dany Wazen, Digital Transformation Specialist, UNDP RBAS
Partnerships
The Portfolio works through a deliberately multi-stakeholder model, recognizing that no single actor can close the region's digital and Artificial Intelligence gaps alone:
- Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Qatar
- Ooredoo Group
- GSMA
- RIPE NCC
- Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
- Women in AI
- Arab Federation for Digital Economy
- Abu Dhabi Ports Group
- International financial institutions and development partners, including the World Bank, ITU, GSMA, and the Islamic Development Bank
