The UAE has reinforced its global leadership in digital transformation, ranking first worldwide in telecom infrastructure and mobile internet speed. With record-high digital government transactions, top smart city rankings, and AI readiness leadership, the nation is advancing a people-first, innovation-driven approach to economic growth and smart governance.
The United Arab Emirates continues to consolidate its status as a global leader in digital transformation, driven by a forward-looking vision, ambitious national policies, and a strong commitment to placing people at the center of technological progress.
Both public and private sectors are actively implementing strategies that treat citizens and residents as not just beneficiaries but also active participants in shaping the nation’s digital future. International assessments have consistently ranked the UAE at the forefront of technology adoption and innovation, confirming its leadership in the global digital economy.
According to the United Nations E-Government Survey 2024, the UAE ranked first worldwide in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index, achieving a perfect score of 100 percent. This accomplishment highlights the country’s extensive high-speed network coverage, robust connectivity, and advanced digital infrastructure.
The nation also retained its top position globally for mobile internet speed for 12 consecutive months, as reported by Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index. In June 2025, the UAE recorded an average mobile download speed of 546.14 megabits per second — well ahead of other leading countries.
Government digital services have also reached new milestones. In 2024 alone, 173.7 million digital government transactions were completed, serving over 57 million beneficiaries across 1,419 services, with a satisfaction rate of 91 percent.
The UAE’s cities are also being recognized for their smart transformation. In the IMD Smart City Index 2025, Dubai ranked fourth globally and first in the Arab world, while Abu Dhabi placed fifth worldwide. These rankings reflect progress in smart infrastructure, innovative services, and enhanced quality of life.
In artificial intelligence, the UAE topped the Middle East and North Africa region in the Government AI Readiness Index 2024 by Oxford Insights, which evaluated 193 countries. The ranking assessed government capability, technology sector development, data accessibility, and infrastructure — all areas where the UAE continues to make significant gains.
The Interregional Centre for Strategic Analysis in Abu Dhabi noted that the country’s AI leadership is underpinned by targeted investments in research, talent development, and innovation.
Industry leaders have praised the UAE’s model of people-first transformation. Rasha Abdo, Director of Strategic Client Team for MENA at Infobip, cited the nation’s perfect Telecommunications Infrastructure Index score as evidence of its strong digital backbone. She also highlighted initiatives like Dubai’s 360 Services policy, which focuses on proactive, integrated service delivery.
Similarly, Amjad Al Sabbagh, Group Vice-President for MEA at Sprinklr, emphasized that the UAE’s digital transformation has matured beyond technology adoption to creating personalized, human-centered experiences. He linked these advancements to the nation’s broader economic goals, including doubling the digital economy’s GDP contribution by 2030 and harnessing AI to generate an estimated US$100 billion — about 13.6 percent of GDP.
With sustained investment, innovative governance, and a clear human-centric approach, the UAE is positioning itself not only as a regional leader but as a global benchmark for digital transformation and smart governance.
