The UAE has been ranked first in the Arab world in a new AI Maturity Index, which evaluates countries’ readiness for artificial intelligence. This finding comes from the latest report by the online learning platform Coursera.

The 2025 Global Skills Report highlights several factors that contributed to the UAE’s top ranking, including the announcement of a UAE-US 5GW AI Campus during US President Donald Trump’s visit in May. Additionally, the decision to introduce mandatory AI classes in schools starting from age four has also played a significant role in this achievement. Kais Zribi, Coursera’s manager for the Middle East and North Africa, noted that the UAE is quickly enhancing its AI learning and infrastructure to transform its workforce and promote regional innovation.

In the global context, the UAE secured the 32nd position out of 109 countries in terms of AI maturity. Saudi Arabia and Qatar followed in 37th and 45th places, respectively. The top five countries globally included Singapore, Denmark, Switzerland, the US, and Finland.

The UAE also excelled in overall AI skills proficiency, ranking highest in the Arab world. Coursera’s report indicated a remarkable 344 percent increase in enrolment in AI courses in the UAE compared to the previous year. This surge has outpaced both the regional average for the Middle East and North Africa and the global average for AI course selections on the platform.

Zribi emphasized that as digital transformation reshapes various industries, the UAE serves as a powerful example of how nations can utilize education to cultivate a competitive and inclusive digital economy, preparing their workforce for future demands.

A similar report from Coursera at the end of last year indicated a growing interest in AI courses in the UAE. The data for the 2025 Global Skills Report is derived from statistics on Coursera’s platform, complemented by third-party metrics to provide a more comprehensive assessment. The AI Maturity Index also incorporates data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Over the past decade, the UAE has openly expressed its ambition to become a leader in AI while diversifying its economy away from oil dependence. This ambition has led to the establishment of start-ups and partnerships with industry giants such as Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI. The UAE has also initiated projects like the development of language models such as Falcon Arabic to ensure that Arabic culture is represented in the AI landscape, which has primarily been dominated by English-language data.

In 2019, the UAE took a significant step by founding the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, dedicated to advancing AI education. Furthermore, the UAE was one of the first countries globally to appoint an AI Minister, Omar Al Olama, several years ago.