Enterprises across the Middle East and North Africa are accelerating their adoption of advanced digital technologies—outpacing global peers—driven by ambitious national digital agendas and soaring investment in AI, IoT, and 5G. A new study from the GSMA, surveying over 850 enterprises across eight MENA countries, shows a region rapidly converting digital vision into measurable impact across healthcare, transport, energy, and cybersecurity.
Between 2025 and 2030, enterprise spending on digital transformation in MENA is projected to average 9.8% of annual revenues, with GCC markets edging higher at 9.9%. These investments are translating into real-world improvements—more efficient government services, stronger SME enablement, and new opportunities for digital talent.
Jawad Abbassi noted that MENA has become a global benchmark for digital transformation, deploying 5G, AI, and IoT faster than many mature markets thanks to visionary government strategies and an innovation-driven private sector. The GCC stands out in the findings: Qatar leads in AI, big data analytics, and private 5G networks; the UAE ranks highest in advanced cybersecurity, cloud, generative AI, and edge computing.
Saudi Arabia is emerging as a powerhouse in IoT adoption, with enterprises expecting rapid ROI—just 3.3 years versus the regional average of 4.7 years. Across MENA, AI, mobile connectivity, and related devices are set to make up nearly 45% of total digital transformation spending, signalling a shift toward mobile-first, intelligent technologies.
Generative AI has moved from experimentation to essential infrastructure—39% of enterprises report advanced usage, particularly in finance, automotive, and utilities. Businesses credit AI for advancements in security, operational efficiency, and productivity.
5G continues to be the backbone of enterprise digitalization. Qatar’s private 5G networks rank among the world’s most advanced; the UAE and Kuwait are early global adopters of 5G-Advanced, signalling the region’s readiness for 6G. Sectors like logistics, utilities, and automotive expect major gains from 5G-enabled IoT as the region prepares for autonomous systems, robotics, and advanced AI capabilities.
Notably, 18% of MENA enterprises view telecom operators as their preferred digital transformation partners—higher than the global average—highlighting strong opportunities for operators to expand beyond connectivity into secure, scalable, industry-specific digital solutions.
