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Qatar is set to train its workforce for the AI era on a large scale. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has joined Google Cloud to launch a national upskilling drive that will open more than 50,000 training seats by 2030.Delivered through Qatar Digital Academy, the initiative will give professionals across the country hands-on command of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other advanced digital technologies, the tools that are rapidly reshaping how economies work, compete and grow.The programme is built as a ladder rather than a single course. It starts with foundational digital literacy and climbs to specialised tracks for executives, technical professionals and developers, so that talent at every level can move from understanding new technologies to putting them to work.It is a central part of MCIT's push to develop human capital and build a deep pool of digital talent that can keep pace with fast-moving technology and meet the specialised skills needs of sectors across the economy.Her Excellency Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at MCIT Reem Mohammed al-Mansoori described capability-building as a cornerstone of Qatar's digital transformation."This initiative expands investment in skills by providing specialised training pathways that address the needs of the workforce, executive leaders and technical professionals," she said. "By providing more than 50,000 training seats by 2030, we aim to build a broad base of talent capable of leveraging artificial intelligence and cloud technologies and developing digital solutions that enhance institutional efficiency and support the growth of the digital economy."She tied the programme directly to the Digital Agenda 2030, which targets the creation of about 26,000 jobs in the information and communications technology sector by the end of the decade and a 10% rise in the capabilities of ICT professionals through advanced skills development."Through this programme, we are translating these targets into practical capacity-building pathways in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and advanced digital technologies," al-Mansoori said.For Google Cloud, the initiative scales up a track record already in place. The company has trained more than 12,000 people in Qatar over the past five years."Our expanded skilling collaboration with MCIT scales this commitment to deliver over 50,000 learning opportunities by 2030," said Ghassan Kosta, Regional General Manager at Google Cloud. "Through specialised frameworks like the Advanced Solutions Lab and targeted curricula for Gemini Enterprise and Google Looker, we are providing the structured technical proficiency required to architect and deploy enterprise-scale cloud and AI solutions."The programme runs under the five-year framework agreement between MCIT and Google Cloud. It was unveiled at Google Cloud Summit Doha 2026 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), which coincided with the third anniversary of Google Cloud's Doha region. 

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) concluded the second edition of the AI Executive Leadership Programme, dubbed “AI Business Strategy & Innovation,” held at the Insead Europe Centre in Fontainebleau, France, from September 14 to 16, in collaboration with Microsoft and Qatar Digital Academy. Held over three days, the programme brought together 24 leaders representing 17 government entities. It enabled participants to move from a general understanding of artificial intelligence to strategically assessing its opportunities, identifying priority use cases, aligning them with institutional objectives, and building the case for their implementation. It also addressed implementation, data, governance, risk management, and organisational change requirements, supporting the responsible adoption of AI. The programme drew practical projects and challenges reflecting the realities of the participating institutions. Participants applied frameworks and tools to assess opportunities based on expected value, feasibility, data readiness, and institutional readiness. The Programme also provided access to global expertise and best practices and enabled participants to exchange experiences with leaders from multiple entities and sectors. The Programme’s value extends beyond its conclusion through the transfer of acquired knowledge and expertise to working teams and their translation into practical practices, initiatives, and projects within government entities. This helps enhance performance, improve services, support decision-making, and foster innovation. Duha al-Buhendi, director of the Digital Society and Digital Competencies Department at MCIT, said: “Qatar Digital Academy plays a pivotal role in supporting digital transformation and building a skilled and empowered digital workforce capable of driving innovation. This edition continues the Academy’s efforts to develop specialised programmes and initiatives that respond to the needs of government entities and rapid technological advancements, while strengthening the skills of leaders and national talent across sectors and professional levels. “The collaboration with Insead Executive Education and Microsoft also reflects the importance of strategic partnerships and continuous knowledge exchange in enhancing the government sector’s readiness for an AI-enabled future and supporting the Digital Agenda 2030 objective of building a future-ready workforce.” The programme’s outcomes reflect Qatar’s strategic focus on investing in human capital as a fundamental pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030. By preparing leaders and professionals to deploy AI and advanced technologies effectively and responsibly, the programme contributes to building an integrated digital society and a diversified economy based on knowledge and innovation. 

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), through Qatar Digital Academy and in collaboration with Microsoft, organised two awareness sessions under the SMEs Go Digital Program at the Digital Center of Excellence. The sessions aimed to support SMEs in adopting modern digital tools that contribute to increasing productivity, simplifying operations, and supporting sustainable growth.The first session focused on showcasing Microsoft applications designed to enhance productivity, where experts delivered practical training on key skills related to collaboration, teamwork, time management, and information sharing within organisations. The session also included examples illustrating how these tools can be applied across different work environments to enhance operational efficiency.The second session addressed Microsoft Business Central, an integrated business management system that provides companies with accurate insights into financial operations, supply chain management, sales, and inventory. Practical use cases were presented to demonstrate how the system helps improve planning, accelerate decision-making, and adopt digital solutions that support business expansion and growth.The sessions are part of a series of specialised sessions organised under the SMEs Go Digital Program, which targets sectors including tourism, education, healthcare, retail and wholesale, and transport and logistics. The programme supports the objectives of the Digital Agenda 2030 by building an innovative business ecosystem and enabling enterprises to adopt advanced technologies and enhance their readiness for the digital future. 

Female participants have occupied an impressive “70%” of the training seats allocated to Qatari nationals last year by the Qatar Digital Academy (QDA), which has played a crucial role in advancing women’s leadership in the country’s digital sector.In its 2024 annual report, the QDA stated that Qatari women demonstrated strong dedication by filling “1,150” of the total training seats available to nationals. This, the report further stated, underlines the academy’s commitment to empowering women in technology, positioning the Middle East as a global leader in digital inclusion.According to the report, this significant female participation has contributed substantially to the region’s digital transformation efforts, reflecting the country’s progressive approach to building an inclusive digital workforce in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Digital Agenda 2030.The report noted that the academy has implemented a comprehensive evaluation framework to ensure training effectiveness, measuring key areas, including instructor expertise, virtual training delivery, training materials quality, learning effectiveness, return on investment, and learning environment.The annual report also revealed that participant satisfaction ratings have been exceptionally high across all metrics, with instructor evaluation scoring “94.21%”, course organisation achieving “91.69%”, and achievement of course objectives reaching “91.14%”.Training materials and content scored “90.21%”, while training delivery methodology achieved “89.90%”, resulting in an overall satisfaction score of “91.43%”.Meanwhile, the report stated that the academy’s success aligns with the sixth pillar of the Digital Agenda 2030, which aims to empower society to drive digital transformation and promote sustainable development.“At the core of QDA’s mission is empowering individuals and organisations, focusing on developing digital skills and nurturing local talent to ensure a workforce that is future-ready for the digital economy’s demands.“In 2024, QDA expanded its training programmes to include all workforce segments, including non-ICT professionals, contributing to enhanced digital proficiency across various sectors,” the report stated.It further explained: “This expansion aligns with the Digital Agenda’s ambitious goal of creating 26,000 new job opportunities by 2030 and increasing the percentage of the workforce employed in ICT to 10%, focusing on developing advanced digital skills and increasing the proportion of highly skilled workers,” the report stated.In the report, Duha al-Buhendi, director of the Digital Society and Digital Competencies Department at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), stressed that the academy’s decision to include non-ICT government employees has resulted in remarkable growth, with training programmes increasing by “94%” and awarded certifications rising by “150%.”“The QDA’s strategy focuses on empowering non-ICT employees with essential skills, such as cybersecurity, privacy management, and modern digital applications like artificial intelligence (Al), and cloud computing, enhancing their efficiency and transforming them into a more capable and future-ready workforce,” the report also stated.During the Web Summit Qatar held in February this year, al-Buhendi and Alex Dai, executive vice president at Huawei Gulf North, signed a partnership initiative to provide government employees with educational opportunities in crucial digital fields, including cloud computing, information technology, IoT, and other emerging digital technologies.“Under the terms of the partnership initiative, Huawei will provide digital training courses to government employees, granting them access to the Huawei Talent Platform. Employees will be able to create their own accounts and enrol in a diverse range of training programs, offering a flexible learning experience tailored to their professional needs and schedules,” the MCIT website stated.