Prime Highlights-
- UAE tops Boston Consulting Group’s 44-country digital government survey, with 89 percent of citizens satisfied with digital public services.
- GCC leads globally in AI openness, with 79 percent of citizens welcoming AI-centered government interactions compared with 66 percent globally.
Key Facts-
- UAE ranks first in government digital service usage at 53 percent among surveyed countries.
- 76 percent of UAE respondents rate their latest online government transaction above typical private-sector experiences.
Background-
The UAE has topped a global ranking of digital government services, with 89 percent of respondents reporting satisfaction with their interactions across the public sector.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) surveyed 44 countries for its Digital Government Citizen Survey Report to learn how citizens use digital government services. The UAE also led all surveyed countries in usage, at 53 percent.
More than three-quarters of UAE respondents, 76 percent, said their latest online government transaction beat a typical private-sector interaction. The result shows the payoff from the country’s digital-first strategy, which also lays the groundwork for rolling out AI services nationwide.
The report also shows strong interest in AI across the Gulf. The GCC is the most AI-receptive region worldwide, with 79 percent of citizens open to AI-centered government interactions, compared with 66 percent globally. That figure puts the region well ahead of the global average.
GCC respondents with expert-level AI proficiency are around four times more likely than those with no AI experience to believe AI’s benefits in government outweigh the risks. Familiarity also sharpens expectations, and citizens rank job security at 33 percent and accuracy at 28 percent as top areas for safeguards.
Dr. Lars Littig, BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner, said the GCC can turn its digital leadership into next-generation AI-enabled services. He said literacy and trust will drive lasting adoption, with automation growing where it adds value while human judgment and responsible safeguards stay in place.
