UAE Ranks First in the Arab Digital Economy Index
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked first in the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026, announced by the Arab Federation for Digital Economy. The results, unveiled as part of Seamless Middle East 2026 in Dubai, assess countries’ digital infrastructure, institutions, skills, innovation, markets, and capacity to generate economic value from technology. The UAE’s position in the digital economy stood out alongside its investments in artificial intelligence and the knowledge economy.
Countries Divided into Three Groups in the Digital Economy Index
According to the index results, the UAE topped the group of highest-performing countries. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman were also included in the first group, while Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria were ranked in the medium-performance group. The third group consisted of countries that are still in the process of developing their digital foundations.
It was stated that progress across Arab countries has been concentrated particularly in digital infrastructure, public services, and cybersecurity. In contrast, innovation, the data economy, research and development, and the conversion of digital investments into economic productivity were identified as areas that need further development.
Artificial Intelligence Stands Out in the UAE’s Digital Economy Leadership
Dr. Ali Mohammed Al Khouri, Chairman of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, linked the UAE’s leadership to its long-term investments in digital infrastructure, public services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the knowledge economy. Al Khouri also stated that data, cloud infrastructure, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity are becoming increasingly central to countries’ economic and institutional capacity.
The Arab Digital Economy Vision, launched in Abu Dhabi in 2018, was adopted at the level of Arab leaders in 2022. The index is also used as one of the tools developed to measure the region’s digital economy transformation, identify gaps, and determine future priorities.
E-Commerce and Retail at the Center of Seamless Middle East
Seamless Middle East 2026, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from September 22–24, brings together more than 25,000 attendees, approximately 800 speakers, and 750 participating companies. The event covers topics including e-commerce, retail, fintech, digital payments, banking, logistics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
The UAE is also positioned as one of the regional hubs for cross-border e-commerce, supported by its advanced logistics infrastructure, digital public services, and regulatory framework. The country’s digitaleconomy ecosystem also includes infrastructure that enables e-commerce and retail companies to adopt new technologies and develop their digital commerce operations.
As developments in artificial intelligence, e-commerce, automation, and robotics technologies continue to transform production, markets, and value chains globally, the Arab Digital Economy Index continues to track the progress and priorities of countries across the region in the digital economy.