Qatar is demonstrating significant momentum in artificial intelligence (AI) advancement within the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region, recording a remarkable AI maturation shift, according to a comprehensive new study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Qatar has achieved a notable 10 percentage-point increase in 'emerging' AI organisations during 2024-25, positioning the nation firmly within the region’s AI acceleration, revealed the report, "Unlocking Potential: How GCC Organisations Can Convert AI Momentum into Value at Scale."
The study, which surveyed 200 C-suite executives and assessed 41 digital and AI capabilities across seven industries, showed Qatar's average AI maturity score of 39 rising rapidly year-over-year, reflecting sustained organisational commitment to AI transformation.
This upward trajectory indicates a growing pipeline of organisations transitioning from experimental phases toward comprehensive AI integrations, it said.
"Qatar's rapid AI maturation and investment in advanced AI compute capabilities reflects the nation's strategic approach to technological transformation and economic diversification," said Dr Ahmad Dhaini, Principal at BCG.
The 10 percentage-point surge in emerging AI organisations demonstrates the country's ability to accelerate from experimentation to systematic implementation at scale, creating a robust foundation for sustained AI leadership across multiple sectors, he added.
The GCC organisations, including in Qatar, have moved beyond experimentation, with many now successfully deploying and scaling AI across core functions,” according to Hassen Benothman, managing director and ME Leader of BCG Platinion.
"The real opportunity ahead is to build on this momentum to successfully reshape processes and invent new value streams with AI," he said.
As organisations look to address key challenges and improve their digital platforms, data foundations, and operating models, early experimentation with agentic AI signals positive promise, with the potential to fundamentally reshape how work gets done and value is shaped in the near future, he added.
Across the broader GCC region, the report demonstrates remarkable progress in closing the AI adoption gap with global markets.
According to the report, 39% of all GCC organisations now qualify as AI Leaders, compared to the global average of 40%, representing a fundamental transformation in how regional businesses approach artificial intelligence.
The GCC region demonstrates exceptional AI leadership, with its public sector achieving the highest AI maturity levels globally across all surveyed markets.
While TMT continues to lead in AI maturity within the GCC, there is rapid advancement occurring in other critical sectors including financial institutions, healthcare, industrial goods, and travel, cities, and infrastructure, highlighting the region's broad-based AI transformation.
Looking toward frontier technologies, 38% of the GCC organisations are already experimenting with agentic AI, positioning the region competitively against the global average of 46%.
The value generated from agentic AI initiatives, currently at 17%, is projected to double to 29% by 2028, driven by continued experimentation and strategic deployment.
