GCC Secretary General: Member States Strengthen Their Global Standing in Digital Transformation

Manama, October 28 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Al-Bedawi said on Wednesday that, amid the rapid technological transformations sweeping the world and the broad horizons opened by the digital revolution and artificial intelligence for economies and societies, GCC countries continue to consolidate their global standing in digital transformation. This progress is built on ambitious strategic visions and targeted investments in infrastructure and advanced technologies, the development of government services, and the cultivation of national capabilities.

These remarks were made during Al-Bedawi’s address at the 10th meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Digital Government, chaired by Bahraini Police Chief Major General Tariq Al-Hasan and attended by members of the committee, including State Minister for Communications and Information Technology and Acting Minister of Media and Culture Omar Al-Omar.

The Secretary-General noted that these efforts have yielded significant progress for GCC countries in international indices. The GCC average for the World Bank’s Government Technology Maturity Index rose from approximately 65 points in 2020 to 88 out of 100 in 2025, surpassing the global average of around 59 points. Additionally, GCC countries scored approximately 90 out of 100 on the Digital Government Services Delivery Index, compared to a global average of around 66 points.

He clarified that this reflects the progress achieved by GCC countries in digital transformation, enhancing the efficiency of government services, and strengthening the business environment and economic competitiveness. These results not only demonstrate the scale of achievements but also confirm that GCC countries currently possess the expertise, resources, and institutional capacities necessary to advance to a more mature stage in the GCC’s digital integration journey.

In this context, the Secretary-General highlighted the importance of the GCC Guiding Strategy for E-Government for the period 2024–2030 and the GCC Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2026–2030, which are currently under consideration by the Ministerial Committee for Digital Government for approval. These strategies aim to guide efforts, define common priorities, and enhance coordination and integration among GCC digital projects.

He expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Digital Government Committee for their continuous efforts, which have contributed to elevating GCC cooperation in this field and advancing it toward broader horizons of integration, innovation, and global leadership. (End) K.N.A./M.M.J.