Qatar is positioned to benefit significantly from artificial intelligence (AI)-driven productivity gains, according to a March 2025 International Monetary Fund (IMF) report titled “Artificial Intelligence in Qatar: Assessing the Potential Economic Impacts.” The report highlights the country’s proactive national AI strategy, robust digital infrastructure, and expanding AI-focused workforce as key drivers of future growth, while also cautioning that targeted labor market policies will be needed to manage displacement risks, particularly in the public sector.
The report, prepared by IMF economist Tongfang Yuan, outlines Qatar’s AI readiness as among the strongest in emerging markets, thanks to early national planning efforts. These include the 2019 National AI Strategy, the formation of an AI committee in 2021, and the launch of the Digital Agenda 2030. These initiatives span education, employment, ethics, and digital infrastructure development.
Qatar is investing heavily in talent and infrastructure to support AI. Its National Skilling Program aims to train 50,000 people in AI and data science by 2025, while high-performance computing resources and a growing network of data centers provide the technological foundation. The country’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, has also pledged to prioritize AI-related investments.
On the labor front, the IMF analysis found that 37% of Qatar’s workforce is exposed to AI, but more than 75% of those jobs are considered “high-complementarity,” meaning AI is more likely to boost productivity than displace workers. High-skilled professions such as engineers and health professionals stand to benefit the most. These trends are driven largely by private sector growth, which has expanded high-skilled employment by 87% over the last decade.
However, the report also flags concerns for Qatari nationals employed in the public sector. Approximately 93% of Qatari workers hold jobs exposed to AI, and 35% of those jobs—primarily clerical positions—face potential automation risks. The IMF recommends targeted upskilling and reskilling programs, better job transition support, and social protections to mitigate displacement impacts.
Scenario analysis in the report suggests that under an optimistic AI adoption trajectory, Qatar’s labor productivity could grow by an additional 1 percentage point annually. Sectors such as IT, finance, and education—identified in Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy—are best positioned to capitalize on AI-related efficiency gains.
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