Doha: Qatar is demonstrating significant momentum in artificial intelligence advancement within the GCC, recording a remarkable AI maturation shift according to a comprehensive new study by Boston Consulting Group.
The report, “Unlocking Potential: How GCC Organizations Can Convert AI Momentum into Value at Scale,” reveals that Qatar has achieved a notable 10 percentage-point increase in ‘Emerging’ AI organizations between 2024 and 2025, positioning the nation firmly within the region’s AI acceleration.
The study, which surveyed 200 C-suite executives and assessed 41 digital and AI capabilities across seven industries, shows Qatar’s average AI maturity score of 39 rising rapidly year-over-year, reflecting sustained organizational commitment to AI transformation. This upward trajectory indicates a growing pipeline of organizations transitioning from experimental phases toward comprehensive AI integrations.
“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 (pictured), Principal at Boston Consulting Group. “The 10 percentage-point surge in emerging AI organizations demonstrates Qatar’s ability to accelerate from experimentation to systematic implementation at scale, creating a robust foundation for sustained AI leadership across multiple sectors.”
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 organizations 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, Health Care, Industrial Goods, and Travel, Cities, and Infrastructure, highlighting the region’s broad-based AI transformation.
The financial impact of AI leadership proves substantial, with AI Leaders across the GCC delivering up to 1.7 times higher total shareholder returns and 1.5 times higher EBIT margins compared to AI Laggards.
While the GCC has demonstrated advanced digital maturity in recent years, AI maturity has surged by 8 points between 2024 and 2025, now trailing overall digital maturity by just 2 points. The study reveals that successful AI Leaders distinguish themselves through five critical strategic moves: pursuing multi-year strategic ambitions with 2.5 times more leadership engagement than laggards, fundamentally reshaping business processes rather than simply deploying off-the-shelf solutions, implementing AI-first operating models with robust governance frameworks, securing and upskilling talent at 1.8 times the rate of competitors, and building fit-for-purpose technology architectures that reduce adoption challenges by 15%.
Looking toward frontier technologies, 38% of GCC organizations 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.
