Doha, Qatar: Qatar has maintained its position among the world’s leading economies for artificial intelligence adoption, ranking 10th in Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report for the second quarter of 2026.
According to the report, released recently, 43.5% of Qatar’s working-age population (aged 15–64) used a generative AI product during the period, up 1.7 percentage points from 41.8% in the first quarter.
The ranking places Qatar just behind the Netherlands (also at 43.5%) and ahead of Australia (40.7%). The United Arab Emirates top the leaderboard with 73.3% adoption, followed by Singapore at 64.3%. Other high-ranking economies include Ireland (49.9%), France (49.6%), Norway (49.4%), Spain (45.1%), New Zealand (44.1%), and the United Kingdom (43.7%).
Microsoft measures AI diffusion as the share of people between the ages of 15 and 64 who have used a generative AI product during the reported period. The figure is derived from aggregated and anonymized Microsoft telemetry data and adjusted to account for differences in operating system and device market share, internet penetration, and population size. Globally, AI usage reached 18.8% of the working-age population in June 2026, an increase of about one percentage point from the previous quarter.
Qatar’s consistent presence in the top 10 reflects sustained progress. In the first half of 2025 the country’s AI user share stood at 35.7%, rising to 38.3% in the second half of 2025, 41.8% in Q1 2026, and 43.5% in Q2 2026. This trajectory demonstrates steady growth amid a broader global expansion of generative AI tools.
The report highlights that growth in AI adoption was broad-based, with almost every economy recording an increase. However, a widening gap persists between the Global North (28.8% adoption) and the Global South (16.2%). Qatar’s performance positions it firmly among the higher-adoption economies, aligning it more closely with advanced digital markets than with many peers in the broader Middle East and North Africa region, though neighboring UAE remains far ahead.
South Korea recorded the largest absolute quarterly gain among major economies (+3.5 percentage points), while Saudi Arabia achieved the biggest rise in rank, climbing five places into the top 25. Japan posted the strongest relative growth. Against this backdrop, Qatar’s 1.7-point increase represents solid, if more moderate, progress that has enabled it to hold its 10th-place ranking.
The findings underscore the role of national strategies in driving adoption. Qatar has invested in digital infrastructure, education, and AI-related initiatives as part of its broader economic diversification efforts. High internet penetration, a young and digitally engaged population, and government-backed programs supporting technology integration in education, public services, and the private sector have contributed to the country’s strong showing.
Microsoft notes that no single metric is perfect and that future reports will expand the measure to include a wider range of new AI tools and models. Such updates are expected to increase measured AI user shares across most economies. The current methodology remains the strongest cross-country indicator available for tracking generative AI usage at the population level.
