Prime Highlights-
- UAE tops the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026, leading alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.
- Seamless Middle East 2026 opens in Dubai with over 25,000 participants and 750 exhibitors.
Key Facts-
- Index measures infrastructure, digital government, innovation and market forces across Arab nations.
- Arab Digital Economy Vision launched in Abu Dhabi in 2018, adopted regionally in 2022.
Background-
The UAE has claimed the top spot in the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026, with organizers unveiling the results as Seamless Middle East 2026 opened at Dubai World Trade Centre under the patronage of Lt.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan
The three-day event draws more than 25,000 participants, roughly 800 speakers and 750 exhibitors across the payments, fintech, banking, digital commerce, retail, identity and logistics sectors.
Ambassadors and delegates from several Arab nations joined UAE government, economic and academic officials at the opening session. Dr. Ali Mohammed Al-Khouri, Chairman of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, addressed attendees before organizers launched the index, which measures institutions, infrastructure, workforce, digital government, innovation and market forces, among other categories.
The UAE headed the top-performing group alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria formed the mid-tier group, while Lebanon, Mauritania, Iraq and several other nations made up the group still building digital foundations.
Al-Khouri credited the UAE’s ranking to sustained investment in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the knowledge economy, calling the country a model for innovation-driven growth. He thanked President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for backing the Arab Digital Economy Vision, launched in Abu Dhabi in 2018 and adopted regionally in 2022.
