A two-day forum held in Doha focused on advancing digital policy frameworks across Arab countries, emphasizing the need to translate broad regional principles into actionable national strategies. The event gathered government officials, private sector representatives, and international organizations to address the growing importance of digital transformation as a key driver of economic growth in the region.
Participants highlighted that digital policy frameworks serve as practical tools to help countries identify gaps and set priorities tailored to their unique contexts. Discussions centered on developing national policies for artificial intelligence (AI) governance, digital infrastructure, data management, connectivity, and digital inclusion. The forum underscored that digital transformation is no longer solely a technical issue but a strategic economic concern requiring coordinated efforts among governments, businesses, and multilateral institutions.
Speakers pointed to significant disparities in digital maturity across Arab states, emphasizing the challenge of turning high-level principles into effective legislation. This legislation would address a range of areas from infrastructure development to smart systems and AI regulation. Hilal Mohammed al-Khulaifi, Chief Legal, Regulatory and Corporate Governance Officer at Ooredoo Group, called for accelerated growth of digital economies, noting that the digital sector's contribution to gross domestic product varies between 2% and 12 percent across the Arab region and approaches 10 percent within Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. He expressed hope that Ooredoo’s ongoing partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would transition into a phase emphasizing stronger dialogue, knowledge exchange, and adaptable frameworks responsive to each nation’s readiness and circumstances.
A ministerial session stressed the urgency of enhanced Arab cooperation in digital policy, with Lebanon’s Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Fadi Makki, advocating for national strategies that complement one another rather than compete. He emphasized the importance of harmonizing standards in critical areas such as cybersecurity, system interoperability, and data sharing. Libya’s Minister of Digital Economy and AI, Ziad al-Hajjaji, echoed calls for increased knowledge-sharing and greater utilization of expertise from GCC countries. Iraq’s Youssef al-Khalaf encouraged Arab states to proactively shape the future of AI technologies instead of merely reacting to developments, pointing out that investments in data centers represent a positive step forward.
Danny Wazen from the UNDP emphasized the forum’s role in moving beyond theoretical discussions toward the formulation of practical policies designed to ensure technology acts as a genuine catalyst for sustainable growth throughout the Arab world.