The UAE has ranked first in the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026, with the results announced on Tuesday as Seamless Middle East 2026 opened at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The three-day event, being held from September 22 to 24, brings together companies and professionals from the payments, fintech, banking, digital commerce, retail, identity and logistics sectors.
Organisers said the event is expected to attract more than 25,000 participants, around 800 speakers and 750 exhibitors.
The opening session was attended by government officials, diplomats and representatives of institutions from across the Arab world and beyond. Delegations from Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Mauritania, Tunisia, Syria, Djibouti and Palestine were among those present, along with Russian representatives and officials from regional and international organisations.
The event also brought together UAE officials from the government, economic, financial and academic sectors, as well as representatives from banks, chambers of commerce, research centres and innovation institutions.
Dr. Ali Mohammed Al-Khouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy and Adviser to the Council of Arab Economic Unity, addressed the opening session before launching the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026.
The index measures the progress of Arab countries in developing their digital economies. Its assessment covers areas including digital infrastructure, digital government services, workforce skills, innovation, technology, investment, financial markets and sustainable development.
The UAE was placed in the highest-performing group, alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.
Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria were placed in the second group, representing countries with medium levels of digital-economy performance.
The third group includes countries that are still developing their digital foundations. It comprises Lebanon, Mauritania, Iraq, Djibouti, Comoros, Libya, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.
The index found that Arab countries have made progress in areas such as digital infrastructure, government services and cybersecurity. However, gaps remain in innovation, the data economy, research and development and the ability to turn digital investment into higher productivity and economic value.
Al-Khouri said the latest index highlights the growing importance of digital sovereignty to Arab economies, particularly as data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, semiconductors and cybersecurity become increasingly important to economic development.
He attributed the UAE’s position to years of investment in digital infrastructure, government services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the knowledge economy.
He said these efforts have helped the UAE develop an innovation-focused economy aimed at turning technological progress into greater productivity and economic value.
Al-Khouri also thanked the UAE for its support for efforts to develop the Arab digital economy and praised the support of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the Arab Digital Economy Vision.
The Arab Digital Economy Vision was launched in Abu Dhabi in 2018 and was later adopted by Arab leaders in 2022 as a framework for cooperation in digital transformation and the development of the regional digital economy.
The Arab Digital Economy Index is one of the tools developed by the Arab Federation for Digital Economy to track progress, identify gaps and help set priorities for future development.
Meanwhile, Seamless Middle East 2026 will feature three days of discussions covering fintech, digital payments, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies.
The event is bringing together government bodies, banks, technology companies, investors and industry experts from the region and around the world.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
