Page 66 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGIONAL NEWS

UAE Tops in Digital Transformation in GCC

Results of the new GCC E-Performance Index 2021 revealed that
the six Gulf countries are progressing steadily in their digital
transformation with UAE topping the list. The 2021 report was
published by Orient Planet Research (OPR), the market research
unit of Orient Planet Group (OPG), in partnership with information
and communications technology (ICT) expert and independent
researcher Abdul Kader Al Kamli. The index showed that the UAE
obtained high scores on all its indicators to reach an average
score of 67.83. Saudi Arabia came in next with an average rating
of 59.01, followed by Qatar (58.50); Bahrain (57.65), Kuwait (55.10)
and Oman (55). Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, OPG, said:
“The GCC E-Performance Index 2021 reflects the member states’
steady efforts to achieve global leadership and competitiveness
in today’s digital era. Each country is advancing at its own pace,
utilizing a coordinated approach to digital innovations in line
with its economic and social development agendas. “Heavy
investments in technological infrastructures and next-generation
tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things
(IoT) and robotics are also being made across the region to help
accelerate the countries’ respective economic diversification
policies. Such investments are crucial to significantly reinforce
their non-oil sectors and fast-track their sustainable development
goals.” Abou Zaki added: “We can gain valuable insights from same data and analytics company also predicted an increase
the GCC E-Performance Index 2021 concerning each country’s in the ICT spending of Qatar at 9.2 per cent CAGR; Bahrain, 8.6
commitment to transition to the digital era, its progress and the per cent CAGR; and Oman, 11.3 per cent CAGR. The scene is
opportunities arising from its digitalization journey. The insights no different in their neighboring Saudi Arabia, where the overall
will help decision-makers, policymakers, government leaders and ICT spending this 2021 is projected to reach USD 32.9 billion,
business executives to make the necessary actions to step up up 1.5 per cent in 2020, according to an International Data
their digital transition according to their growth strategies. Their Corporation (IDC) study. To check the region’s digital progress,
approaches should be designed in a way that will make them even the GCC E-Performance Index measured the GCC member
more competitive in today’s highly connected and technology- states’ competitiveness, network and AI readiness, innovation
driven society.” Al Kamli, on the other hand, stated: “As shown and e-government development. Its findings were based on the
by the GCC E-Performance Index, the UAE continues to perform five most important global indexes: the Global Competitiveness
strongly across all indicators. This comes as no surprise given Index (GCI) 2019; the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2020; the
its intensified digitalization initiatives that are comparable with Government AI Readiness Index (GAR) 2020; the Global Innovation
the rest of the world. We can expect to see more from the UAE Index (GII) 2020; and the UN E-Government Development Index
in terms of its digital innovation efforts to sustain its gains and (EGDI) 2020. The five served as the report’s main indicators. The
cement its global standing. But other GCC member states are also World Economic Forum’s GCI is defined as the yearly assessment
expected to up their game to future-proof themselves and better of the drivers of productivity and long-term economic growth.
prepare for the changes that will come with the unstoppable Portulans Institute’s NRI positions 134 economies accordingly
4th Industrial Revolution. Overall, in the Arab world, the GCC based on their performance across 60 variables, while GAR of
will remain at the forefront of the region’s digital journey.” The the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the
report pointed out the link between better scores and countries Centre de recherches pour le développement international (CRDI)
with advanced telecommunication infrastructure. Across the studies the ability of each country to integrate AI into public
GCC, telecommunication-related investments are rising with service. GII presents data on innovation and is co-published by
further growth projections on the Gulf states’ information Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property
and communications technology (ICT) spending. In the UAE, Organization (WIPO). Lastly, EGDI, as per the UN, explores how
the government’s ICT expenditure is forecasted to witness a digital government can facilitate integrated policies and services
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8 per cent during 2019- across the 193 UN member states. To compute the average of
2024 as per the findings of GlobalData. During 2019-2024, the each GCC country per indicator, the research team behind the GCC

66 APRIL-MAY 2021