At the Qatar Economic Forum, Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Mannai shared Qatar’s plans to expand its data center capacity by three times in the next five to six years. This growth will involve attracting more hyperscalers to operate from Qatar. Minister Al Mannai emphasized the importance of technology in unlocking a new era of growth for the nation, highlighting Qatar’s National AI Strategy and the incentives allocated to support digital transformation.
One of the key initiatives announced at the forum is the launch of the Al Fanar Arabic artificial intelligence project, aimed at collecting quality data in the Arabic language to enrich linguistic models and preserve the Arab identity. The project will be powered by the Generative AI Arabic Language Model developed by the Qatar Computing Research Institute. Fanar is designed to navigate the complex linguistic landscape of Arabic, producing culturally resonant content and enhancing digital experiences for Arabic speakers and institutions.
Qatar’s National AI Strategy, established in 2019, is built on six pillars including education, data access, employment, business, research, and ethics. Minister Al Mannai highlighted the significance of AI in enhancing efficiencies and increasing output, especially in a context where human capital capacity is limited. He stressed the importance of ensuring high-quality data to drive innovation in AI, and emphasized the need for collaboration among countries in the region to address the challenge of limited Arabic data availability.
In order to attract and retain human capital in the ICT sector, Qatar is focusing on doubling the number of ICT professionals in the country from 20,000 to 46,000 over the next seven to eight years. Initiatives such as the talent visa and the Josoor programme are aimed at facilitating the stay of skilled professionals in Qatar. Additionally, a programme will be launched by the beginning of next year to specifically attract digital talent to operate from Qatar as part of the country’s digital Agenda 2030.
Overall, Minister Al Mannai’s address at the Qatar Economic Forum highlighted Qatar’s commitment to expanding its data center capacity, driving innovation through AI initiatives, and attracting and developing digital talent to support the nation’s digital transformation goals. Through strategic investments and partnerships, Qatar aims to position itself as a hub for technological growth and innovation in the region, leveraging technology to drive economic development and enhance the digital landscape in the country.
