Qatar Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology market developments in 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a booming sector in Qatar, especially in late 2024.  And it is no surprise: the country was a pioneer by establishing an AI strategy in 2019. In 2024, Qatar’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) published the Guidelines for the Secure Adoption and Usage of Artificial Intelligence, as the agency is spearheading Qatar’s regulatory efforts to safely adopt AI solutions in both the public and private sectors.

As Qatar is pushing to expand and transform its economy beyond Oil and Gas, the rapid adoption of AI, new cybersecurity solutions, and cloud services are at the center of the country’s digital transformation efforts, and in line with the third National Development Strategy (NDS3) goals, with the ultimate goal of fulfilling Qatar’s National Vision (QNV) 2030.

In September 2024, NCSA released its 2024-2030 National Cybersecurity Strategy.  The strategy includes pillars for a data-driven economy and workforce talent development with a strong emphasis on human capital. There is a talent gap and a skills gap within the cybersecurity workforce that Qatar is trying to bridge. The NCSA established the National Cyber Security Academy in 2024, as a response to this challenge. The academy will serve as a training hub for professionals in Qatar and in the GCC region.

AI, agritech, cleantech, e-gaming, and cybersecurity are priority sectors for Invest Qatar and are at the center of Qatar’s economic diversification efforts.  Qatar has mid-term agreements to host the Middle East and North Africa editions of the Web Summit and World Summit AI—a testament to the country’s commitment to advance in these sectors.

Many big U.S. firms are leading in-country efforts to promote their  solutions and showcase business cases for the use of AI. These efforts allow American SMEs to benefit from the openness of the market to explore and get acquainted with new technology solutions.

For more information about the AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity sectors in Qatar, please contact Office.Doha@trade.gov or Juan.Catril@trade.gov at the U.S. Embassy in Qatar.