Qatar has been ranked fifth in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and 46th globally on the newly introduced AI-Human Skills Synergy Index, according to Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026. This index evaluates how learners in 98 countries develop artificial intelligence (AI) technical skills alongside essential human skills, while also considering each nation's overall AI readiness.
Qatar’s ranking reflects its ongoing efforts to implement its National AI Strategy, which aims to integrate talent development with the deployment of AI technologies. A notable element of this strategy is a $20 billion partnership between Brookfield and Qai, Qatar’s national AI company, designed to enhance AI infrastructure and advance skills training. Additionally, government employees receive practical generative AI training through the ALIF programme, delivered by Qatar Digital Academy in collaboration with Scale AI. A separate national upskilling initiative with Google Cloud plans to offer more than 50,000 learning opportunities by 2030.
The Global Skills Report, now in its eighth edition, draws upon data from over 300 million learners worldwide on platforms such as Coursera and Udemy. It combines insights into AI and human skills acquisition with national AI readiness assessments from Oxford Insights’ Government AI Readiness Index.
In Qatar, enrollment in AI courses has surged 70% year-on-year, with growing interest in areas including generative AI, agentic AI and AI agents, and large language model applications. Enrollments specifically in agentic workflows increased by 187%, AI security by 148%, and generative AI by 132%. Alongside technical training, learners are honing human skills that are critical for effectively applying AI, such as communication and presentation, adaptability, resilience, leadership, planning, prioritization, ethics, and governance. Enrollment in complex problem-solving skills rose 82%, critical thinking by 46%, and innovation by 34% year-on-year.
The report highlights that in Qatar, learners often develop human skills in tandem with AI skills more distinctly than the global average. For example, adaptability and resilience are frequently paired with generative AI and AI interaction skills, while AI product strategy and personalization are linked to emotional intelligence and empathy. These combined skill sets are seen as vital for adjusting workflows and decision-making processes as AI tools evolve, ensuring that human factors remain central in AI deployment.
Kais Zribi, Coursera’s general manager for the Middle East and Africa, emphasised that Qatar’s progress in AI readiness depends not only on technical expertise but also on cultivating essential human skills. He noted that expanding access to such learning opportunities could translate Qatar’s AI investments into increased productivity and new career prospects, aligning with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.