Around two dozen housing and social security services that once meant a counter visit can now be applied for, tracked and completed from a phone — and the Ministry of Social Development and Family has rebuilt its website to make them easier to reach, with an artificial intelligence assistant fielding enquiries at the front door.
The redesigned platform presents ministry information, news, announcements and electronic services through a clearer interface, and is structured around five characteristics: modern, clear, easy, smart and accessible. It offers simplified navigation and organised content, and routes users more directly into electronic services.
The centrepiece is Sanad, the ministry’s digital assistant, which uses artificial intelligence to answer enquiries and provide immediate help. The site identifies Sanad as its digital assistant and provides integrated access to services, forms and publications.
The relaunch comes at a significant point in the ministry’s digital transformation programme. In April, MSDF launched a unified digital platform covering its public services, available through mobile applications as well as digital channels. The platform allows users to browse and apply for services through a single interface, track applications in real time, view previous requests and follow the progress of transactions. It also carries an artificial-intelligence-powered assistant and a digital social security card that can be used without a physical card.
The first phase covered around 24 core services in housing and social security, with more due during 2026 for associations, private institutions and family affairs. The ministry has set a longer-term objective of 100% digitisation of its services. The platform also includes electronic channels for complaints and suggestions, supporting direct communication between beneficiaries and the ministry.
MSDF said the unified platform was designed to high digital-accessibility standards, with particular consideration for older people and persons with disabilities. The website similarly highlights sign-language support, reinforcing the emphasis on making digital government services usable across different segments of society. The site is certified by the Mada Center.
The approach builds on a series of digital-inclusion initiatives. In October 2025, the ministry received the Outstanding Project Award in the Best Digital Inclusion Initiative category at the GCC eGovernment Award 2025 for its Sokoon application, which digitises the Unified Arabic Sign Language Dictionary. The initiative was recognised for easing communication and improving access to information for people with hearing disabilities.
Qatar won three awards at the 2025 GCC eGovernment Awards, the other two going to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the National Planning Council.
The MSDF transformation forms part of a wider expansion of digital government in Qatar. The official Hukoomi platform provides access to more than 1,000 electronic government services, allowing users to complete transactions, track applications and obtain online support.
Qatar has also recorded measurable progress in international digital-government indicators. According to the United Nations 2024 E-Government Development Index, the country scored 0.8244 and ranked 53rd among 193 countries. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology said Qatar was among the world’s five most improved countries in the 2024 index, climbing 25 places from 78th.