By Desmond Nleya
The United Arab Emirates has secured its position as the leading Arab nation in digital connectivity and technological advancement, ranking 26th worldwide in the 2025 Network Readiness Index (NRI). The report, published by the Portulans Institute in partnership with the World Governments Summit, highlights the country’s continued investment in and adoption of advanced technologies.
The NRI assesses 127 economies based on four key pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact. Each pillar includes multiple sub-indicators measuring digital performance and readiness.
The UAE demonstrated exceptional strength in digital infrastructure and emerging technology adoption. It ranked first globally for mobile network coverage and internet access in schools, and third in emerging technology adoption. The country also placed second worldwide for government promotion of emerging technologies, while digitized public services ranked 16th.
Affordable mobile devices and strong international internet bandwidth have further strengthened the UAE’s digital ecosystem. However, the report noted areas for improvement in regulatory oversight, with the country ranking 50th in digital technology regulation and 125th in privacy protection laws.
Rafael Escalona Reynoso, CEO of the Portulans Institute, stated that the 2025 NRI underscores the growing importance of governance quality and institutional effectiveness in shaping digital readiness, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
Bruno Lanvin, co-editor of the NRI, emphasized the need to reconcile differing approaches to AI governance and business models in order to fully unlock the benefits of technological transformation.
Within the Arab region, Saudi Arabia ranked second at 34th globally, followed by Bahrain (36th), Qatar (50th), and Oman (59th). Morocco, Jordan, and Tunisia also performed strongly relative to their income levels, showing notable progress in technology, governance, and human capital development.
Originally launched in 2002 and redesigned in 2019, the Network Readiness Index now provides a comprehensive measure of digital transformation by integrating technology, people, and governance, while also considering the role of AI, the Internet of Things, and digital innovation in advancing global sustainability goals.
Source: Emirates News Agency
