Qatar's National AI Strategy, released in October 2019, outlines a vision for the country to become both a producer and efficient consumer of AI technologies. The strategy focuses on six key pillars: Race for Talent in the AI+x era; Data Access and Computing Infrastructure; AI Augmented Jobs; New Business and Economic Opportunities; Qatar – AI + x Focus areas; and Ethics and Public Policy.
The strategy aligns with Qatar's National Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy. To implement this strategy, Qatar has established an AI committee to oversee state-led AI initiatives and bridge gaps between ministries and relevant authorities.
Qatar has taken significant steps in data protection, becoming the first Gulf Cooperation Council member state to issue a Data Protection Law in 2016. The law, supplemented by regulatory guidelines, incorporates concepts from EU data protection frameworks and addresses issues such as automated decision-making and Data Protection Impact Assessments.
Key features of Qatar's data protection landscape include the definition of individual rights regarding data processing, special permissions required for processing sensitive personal data, and fines of up to US$275,000 for non-compliance with Data Protection Impact Assessments. Additionally, Data Protection Regulations aligned with GDPR have been issued by the Qatar Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Qatar is positioning itself as a global innovation centre for AI, with several key institutions leading the charge. The Qatar Centre for Artificial Intelligence (QCAI) advises leadership on AI's potential for economic and strategic future, while the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) engages with UN agencies on AI for sustainable development. Other institutions such as Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) and Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) support research and innovation. These initiatives are part of Qatar's broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas.
Qatar has implemented AI in various sectors, including the FIFA World Cup 2022 for AI-powered crowd management and stadium condition control. The country has also used data algorithms in the labour market for job localisation.
However, the country faces challenges in balancing innovation with ethical concerns. The extensive use of facial recognition during the World Cup raised privacy concerns, and issues related to migrant workers' rights persist. Despite efforts to include civil society in policy decisions, there is still a lack of established processes for meaningful public participation in AI policy formulation.
While Qatar is not a member of the OECD and has not endorsed the OECD AI Principles, the country has shown commitment to ethical AI development through other means. Qatar has been a UNESCO member state since 1972 and endorsed the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI in 2021. The country also engages with UN agencies on AI for sustainable development.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/