Our Tech Trends articles bring the most-talked about technologies in MENA into the spotlight, introducing the topics that will spark conversations, inspire debate and generate new ideas at MWC25 Doha. In this article, we explore how Qatar has become a regional leader in researching and deploying agentic AI for high-tech services and positive societal change.
Find out more about our dedicated Agentic AI summit.
Agentic AI is the buzzword of 2025 as big-name brands and tech founders race to adopt the latest in advanced automation, commercial tools, improved data and language systems. These systems – capable of assisting humans by acting on their behalf in complex environments – are a fast-emerging field of innovation. Agentic AI is redefining how governments and industries approach rapid decision-making, moving beyond automation to systems that learn, adapt and act autonomously.
In 2024, machine learning was the leading revenue generator in the Middle East and Africa; but deep learning is expected to overtake this sector as agentic use cases proliferate, particularly in enterprise applications.
The MEA agentic AI market is forecast to grow tenfold over the next five years.
Refining expertise to support Qatar’s AI strategy
Years before ChatGPT’s arrival, Qatar had already established a National AI Strategy – a call to action which anticipated challenges and opportunities posed by accelerated development. This was bolstered by the Artificial Intelligence Committee – an oversight and coordination group of academics, industry experts and policy makers.
The timeliness of this strategy, which feeds into the country’s Digital Agenda 2030, has given Qatar a defining role in MENA AI readiness, as the nation focuses on talent development, community benefits, infrastructure and an innovation-driven government mindset.
AI advancement timeline:
2008 National Vision 2030
2010 Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI)
2018 Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI)
2019 National AI Strategy
2021 Artificial Intelligence Committee
2021 TASMU Smart Qatar Program
2022 National Skilling Program
2023 Qatar Digital Government NextGen Strategy
2024 Digital Agenda 2030
2024 Qatar-UK Joint Artificial Intelligence (AI) research commission
2024 Fanar LLM launch
2024 (Second) National Cyber Security Strategy 2024-2030
2024 Digital Inclusion Index
2024 Qatar Central Bank (QCB) Artificial Intelligence Guideline
2024 C4IR opened in Qatar (World Economic Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution)
Qatar’s step up from customer to big-tech partner
Qatar’s National AI Strategy has secured laser-targeted partnerships (such as Scale AI, Google, multiple Microsoft collaborations and Nvidia) that are supporting the expansion of agentic AI for government services. There are over 50 AI-driven use cases planned by 2029 and four already underway. Taking a deeper dive into the central platform behind these services, the potential becomes immediately obvious.
The TASMU Smart Qatar initiative is a high-security platform using the country’s Smart Nation Data Ecosystem of AI, IoT and big data to enhance efficiency across five priority sectors: transportation, healthcare, logistics, environment, and sports. In practical terms, TASMU is already making its presence felt, with many more initiatives in the pipeline. Current applications include:
- streamlining eGovernment services
- powering community healthcare
- reducing traffic congestion
- modelling crowd movements
- increasing farming productivity
- monitoring food security
- optimising supply chains
Qatar’s AI market is forecast to grow by as much as 29% CAGR to reach $2.16b by 2031
Energising the MENA agentic AI conversation
As a centre of excellence for digital transformation, Qatar is consolidating its expertise on the global stage by hosting the GSMA’s first MWC Series connectivity event in MENA.
At MWC Doha 2025, policy makers, technology pioneers and industry experts will explore AI’s role in driving knowledge economies and cross-sector innovation, with a sharp focus on agentic AI through a dedicated summit.
Register to attend MWC25 Doha or contact our event team to find out more about exhibiting or sponsoring the summit.
Digital Agenda 2030 and ethical guardrails
Rapid digital transformation needs guardrails: in a recent global survey, just 4% of participants believed current AI regulation is adequate. Notwithstanding, strong momentum is carrying the market forward. Gartner predicts that at least 15% of daily work decisions will be made autonomously by agentic AI by 2028, up from 0% in 2024. The share of enterprise software featuring agentic AI is expected to hit 33% by 2028, leapfrogging from less than 1% in 2024.
In response to the dizzying growth predictions, the consideration of risk assessment, job security, upskilling, data security and ethical safeguards has been baked into Qatar’s Digital Agenda 2030 and other national policies. Commercial developments and eGovernment solutions are underscored by codes of practice such as the Artificial Intelligence Guideline and TASMU Societal Impact Policy. Qatar is mapping out a secure investment route by ensuring AI delivers broad benefits and tangible value through principled expansion, rather than simply driving efficiency or rebranding at any cost.
Qatar’s USPs in artificial intelligence include policies that align with the US Executive Order on AI and the EU’s AI Act.
Arabic LLMs: dismantling knowledge barriers
One of the core market sectors of agentic AI is Natural Language Processing (NLP). Around 450 million people speak Arabic and new Arabic LLMs are fuelling regional aspirations to build culturally aware AI models. Fanar, Qatar’s bilingual LLM (partnered with Google Cloud) incorporates two best-in-class Arabic LLMs, excelling in Arabic-centric thinking.
Developed by Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Fanar is sponsored by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and is already powering chatbots, supporting educators and informing newsrooms with many more use cases in planning. Fanar joins the GCC’s other LLMS: Falcon, Jais and ALLaM.
Qatar’s AI market has expanded by around 17% annually since 2022.
Building Doha’s talent for an AI-first economy
Qatar’s success story is grounded in nationwide digital access, increasing data centre capacity and focused upskilling. The National Skilling Program, launched in conjunction with Microsoft, has been training a 50,000-strong local workforce in artificial intelligence and advanced digital competencies with a deadline this year – a significant step towards a knowledge-based economy.
The MENA region is rich in technical talent and creative problem-solvers. Imaginative tech creators are already exploring agentic AI in the hospitality industry, adjusting real-time menus based on kitchen stock and diner traffic, or offering AI-guided healthy meal subscriptions. Data-driven insights and custom-built predictive analysis are equipping energy transformation projects, in the hope of maximising sustainability outcomes.
The rush to employ agentic AI is matched by growing interest in investment in governance, standards and public-private collaboration. As more countries lay the groundwork, especially in the areas of infrastructure, legal frameworks and education, the opportunities are multiplying. Success, as Qatar has already shown, depends on a long view: robust foundations, sharp strategic focus and a balanced commitment to both innovation and inclusion.
The MEA agentic AI market is forecast to grow from $213m in 2024 to $2.2b by 2030 at a 48.3% CAGR; the enterprise segment alone is expected to reach $1b by 2030.
Qatar’s agentic AI model for responsible adoption
Qatar’s early investments, case studies, deep research and cross-sector pilots make it a regional frontrunner and collaborator in the race to develop next-gen agentic AI models.
A $2.5 billion investment and incentive package in 2024, combined with targeted support from the Qatar Investment Authority for data centres, applications and semiconductor partnerships, has placed Qatar among MENA’s top backers of AI technology.
As agentic implementation scales across urban management, finance, healthcare and customer services, Qatar’s experience offers an exemplary playbook: start with long-range public policy, embed ethical governance, build skills and partner widely. The result: AI systems that serve people and society, not the other way around.