GCC E-Performance Index 2023: Exceptional Digital Prowess of Gulf nations

• The index underscores the efficiency of GCC nations in 5 main world indices
• It highlights vital efforts to bolster digitalisation throughout the area
• High averages have been recorded in varied indicators, positioning Gulf nations on high rating throughout all indices.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations ranked excessive on the GCC E-performance index, exhibiting distinctive efficiency in digitalisation throughout the area. Orient Planet Research, in collaboration with Abdul Kader Al Kamli, Information and Communications know-how (ICT) Expert and Independent Researcher, launched the GCC E-Performance Index 2023, an evaluation that amalgamates key world indicators to measure digital efficiency of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. This index assesses information from 5 distinguished world benchmarks, together with the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI), Network Readiness Index (NRI), Government AI Readiness Index (GAR), Global Innovation Index (GII) and UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI).

The ICT sector within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations is poised for substantial enlargement and development within the coming years. The outlook for the sector within the area seems optimistic, propelled by varied elements resembling digital transformation, sensible metropolis initiatives, cybersecurity measures, innovation, cloud computing, e-commerce, synthetic intelligence (AI) and robotics. The dedication of governments within the area to diversify their economies, coupled with the growing tech-savviness of the inhabitants, creates a conducive setting for continued development. This dedication, mixed with the revolutionary applied sciences, units the stage for a dynamic and thriving ICT panorama within the GCC nations.

One distinguished development is the growing concentrate on digitalisation and sensible cities. Governments throughout the GCC area, resembling these within the UAE and KSA, are closely investing in sensible infrastructure, utilising superior applied sciences just like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large information analytics, to reinforce city dwelling, streamline providers and enhance total effectivity. This push in the direction of sensible cities is predicted to revolutionise varied industries, together with healthcare, transportation and power, making a extra related and technologically superior setting.

Another key development within the GCC area’s ICT sector is the rising significance of cybersecurity. As the area turns into extra digitally interconnected, the chance of cyber threats and assaults rises. Governments and companies are recognising the necessity to put money into sturdy cybersecurity measures to safeguard delicate information and significant infrastructure. This contains the adoption of superior cybersecurity applied sciences, the event of expert cybersecurity professionals and the implementation of complete methods to detect and reply to cyber threats. The emphasis on cybersecurity is important to sustaining belief in digital transactions, defending nationwide safety and sustaining the expansion of the digital economic system within the area.

The third vital development in the way forward for the ICT sector within the GCC area is the rise of 5G know-how. The deployment of 5G networks is gaining momentum, providing sooner and extra dependable connectivity. This know-how is predicted to catalyse improvements resembling augmented actuality, digital actuality and the Internet of Things on an unprecedented scale. With elevated bandwidth and low latency, 5G will play an important function in supporting sensible functions, autonomous automobiles and different rising applied sciences. Governments and the telecom sector are investing closely within the improvement and deployment of 5G infrastructure, anticipating its transformative influence on varied sectors, together with healthcare, training and manufacturing. Overall, these developments collectively form a dynamic and promising future for the ICT sector within the GCC area.

Dr Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, Orient Planet Group, stated: “The GCC countries showed exceptional performance in digitalisation efforts with countries ranking extremely well in the GCC E-Performance Index 2023. Countries in the region have achieved significant growth, especially in the ICT sector, owing to the rise in 5G technology, which has facilitated faster and reliable connectivity. Furthermore, the increasing significance of cybersecurity has also driven government and private organisations to implement vital measures to ensure data security, as the region is getting more digitally connected.”

He added: “As the ICT sector is positioned to bring about substantial growth and transformation in the region, we can witness upcoming trends such as rapid digitalisation and establishment of smart cities. There has been a significant rise in investments in advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytics. Leveraging such technologies can enhance urban living, while smart cities, in this regard, have the potential to revolutionise various industries, ranging from healthcare to the energy sector. Such developments across the region can contribute towards building a more sustainable and technologically developed economy.”

Abdul Kader Al Kamli, ICT skilled and Independent Researcher, stated: “The GCC E-Performance Index measures the position of GCC countries in five key global indices, especially focussing on the growth of the ICT sector and efforts in driving digitalisation. The GCC countries have fared extremely well in the index; with the UAE leading in all five indices. The GCC region has been consistently committed to fostering digitalisation, which is evident in its efforts to invest heavily in the development and deployment of 5G infrastructure.”

Al Kamli added: “The UAE has ranked first in all indices followed by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. These countries have been making tremendous efforts in boosting their digital performance and technological capabilities through various initiatives and increased investments in the ICT sector. There has been an increased emphasis on the key role of science and technology, RDI capacity building and establishing an enhanced NIS system across the region. Furthermore, the advent of 5G technology and the efforts of the governments to embrace and deploy it shows a great potential for growth in the upcoming year.”

The GCC E-Performance Index for 2023, calculated by averaging the scores on the 5 worldwide indicators, recorded the UAE securing the highest spot with a mean of 65.43 factors. Following carefully behind is Saudi Arabia with a mean score of 58.34 factors and Qatar with 55.22 factors. Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait additionally recorded vital development within the GCC E-Performance Index, reaching a mean score of 52.46, 52.05, 49.15 factors, respectively.

Saudi Arabia excels within the analysis and improvement pillar, rating first within the Arab world and twentieth globally. The UAE follows carefully, rating second within the Arab world and thirty fourth globally in the identical pillar. These rankings showcase the area’s dedication to fostering innovation and technological development.

The GTCI 2022 evaluates nations’ capacities to foster, appeal to and retain expertise, that includes 175 cities throughout 133 nations throughout all revenue teams. According to the report, the UAE excels in expertise attraction, pushed by its excellent employment insurance policies.

This 2022 version of NRI, focussed on the youthful generations, or ‘digital natives’, and their function in shaping the world because it strikes in the direction of a extra digital age. The report analyses the readiness of 131 nations based mostly on their performances in 4 core pillars: Technology, People, Governance and Impact. The UAE demonstrates energy in all pillars, significantly excelling within the folks class.

GAR 2022 gauges the mixing of AI in enhancing public providers, evaluating nations based mostly on 39 indicators spanning authorities, know-how and information and infrastructure sector. This 12 months’s version ranked 181 nations on their authorities’s readiness to implement AI within the supply of public providers to residents.

The GII 2023 scrutinises innovation efficiency of 132 nations, monitoring world innovation developments in seven classes: establishments, human capital and analysis, infrastructure, market sophistication, enterprise sophistication, information and know-how outputs, and inventive outputs, totalling 80 indicators. In this version, the UAE carried out higher than high-income group averages in enterprise sophistication, market sophistication, human capital and analysis, infrastructure and establishments.

Finally, the EGDI ranks 193 UN member nations assessing how a rustic is utilizing info know-how to reinforce entry and inclusion of individuals. The report measures three essential dimensions of e-government – provision of on-line providers, telecommunication connectivity and human capability. Dubai secured the fifth place worldwide and first within the Arab world, which was decided by analysing 86 indicators.

In phrases of different indices, the Frontier Technologies Readiness Index 2022 by UNCTAD ranks 166 nations based mostly on know-how and innovation capabilities. The UAE leads the Arab world, rating thirty seventh globally, adopted by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.