The United Arab Emirates has been ranked first worldwide in citizen satisfaction with digital government services, according to the 2026 Citizen Survey on Digital Government conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The survey found that 89 percent of respondents in the UAE gave the country’s digital government services a high rating.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, highlighted the achievement in a message on social media, noting that over 75 percent of respondents believe government services in the UAE outperform those offered by the private sector. “We are proud of our teams, proud of our journey to make people's lives easier, and proud of our country, which provides the world's best services to its citizens, visitors and residents,” he said.

The survey, which included feedback from 44 countries, also revealed that the UAE leads globally in usage of digital government platforms, with 53 percent of respondents reporting regular use of such services. Additionally, 76 percent of UAE users said their most recent digital government transaction offered a better experience compared to interactions with private-sector organisations.

Looking ahead, Sheikh Mohammed indicated that the UAE plans to unveil a major transformation in how government services are structured and delivered in November, describing it as the "biggest transformation yet."

The report also underscores a strong digital infrastructure in the UAE, with artificial intelligence (AI) playing an increasing role. Eighty-two percent of respondents said they use AI weekly, and 53 percent believe that the advantages of deploying AI in government outweigh potential risks. This contrasts with 49 percent in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and 36 percent globally.

Across the GCC, demand for AI-powered government services is robust. The region showed the highest receptiveness to AI worldwide, with 79 percent of citizens open to interacting with AI-enabled government services, compared with 66 percent globally. Government applications involving AI agents received the highest levels of public support, suggesting these as key areas for development.

However, preferences vary by service complexity. About half of respondents across the GCC prefer AI for simple government services, reserving human interaction for more complex transactions. This mix of digital and human service delivery points toward a balanced approach in the region’s digital transformation efforts.