The UAE has emerged as the leading Arab nation in access to and use of information and communications technology, ranking 26th globally in the 2025 Network Readiness Index (NRI) published by the Portulans Institute in partnership with the World Governments Summit.
The ranking reflects the country’s significant investment in and adoption of future technologies.
The NRI evaluates 127 economies across four pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact, each comprising multiple sub-pillars and variables. The UAE excels in digital infrastructure and future technology adoption, securing first place in mobile network coverage and internet access in schools, and third in emerging technology adoption. Government promotion of emerging technologies ranks second globally, while digitized public services rank 16th.
Affordable handsets and strong international internet bandwidth support the country’s robust digital ecosystem. However, regulatory oversight lags behind, with the UAE placed 50th overall in digital technology regulation and 125th in privacy protection laws.
Rafael Escalona Reynoso, CEO of the Portulans Institute, noted that the NRI 2025 highlights how governance quality and institutional execution increasingly determine digital readiness outcomes, particularly in AI adoption and advanced technologies.
Bruno Lanvin, NRI co-editor, emphasized that divergent approaches to AI governance and business models must be reconciled to harness the full potential of technological transformation.
Within the Arab region, Saudi Arabia ranks second at 34th globally, followed by Bahrain (36th), Qatar (50th), and Oman (59th). Morocco, Jordan, and Tunisia also exceeded expectations relative to income levels, demonstrating strong performance in technology, governance, and human capital.
First launched in 2002 and redesigned in 2019, the NRI now integrates technology, people, and governance to measure digital impact comprehensively, encompassing AI, the Internet of Things, and the role of digital transformation in achieving global sustainability goals.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
