Cairo

Source: Al-Wafd newspaper

Dr. Ali Mohamed Al-Khouri

The world is witnessing a frantic race towards digital arms, as major countries compete to develop their technological capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing. This digital race is not limited to an attempt to keep pace with technological developments, but rather represents a strategic investment in the future of national security and economic growth, and goes beyond that to affect international relations and the balance of power between countries, given the impact of controlling advanced technologies and exploiting them as a tool of diplomatic and economic influence. In this context, Arab countries find themselves facing profound challenges, but also promising opportunities that could change the features of their digital future and their positioning in the global economy.
Like other countries in the world, Arab countries face fundamental challenges in keeping pace with global digital development. One of the most prominent of these challenges is what is known as the “digital divide”, as many Arab countries suffer from a significant disparity in levels of access to modern technologies and digital infrastructure compared to developed countries. According to reports by the International Telecommunication Union for 2023, about 45% of the region’s population does not have reliable access to the Internet, which limits their ability to benefit from digital transformation and hinders economic development efforts. This technical gap is also reflected in the lack of qualified human resources to deal with complex digital challenges. Studies show that the Arab region suffers from a shortage of specialized competencies, especially in areas such as cybersecurity, where the skills gap amounts to about 3.4 million specialists, which could leave Arab institutions vulnerable to cyber risks and exacerbate the fragility of their digital infrastructure.
If we look into the reasons and causes, we find that Arab spending on research and development in the field of technology is still small compared to global standards. While developed countries allocate an average of 2.3% of their GDP to this sector, Arab countries allocate much lower percentages, not exceeding 0.8% in some countries. This funding deficit makes it difficult for Arab countries to develop local and innovative solutions to technical challenges, and even puts them in a position of “dependent” on foreign countries’ technology.
The absence of integrated national strategies for digital transformation is another challenge; Many Arab countries lack a clear and comprehensive vision of how to employ technology to support development plans, which in turn leads to the dispersion of efforts and the waste of resources, in addition to their vulnerability to increasing cyber threats due to the continued reliance on technology without the knowledge and capabilities to adequately protect the digital infrastructure.
Despite all these challenges, Arab countries have unique opportunities that can be exploited. The demographic structure in the Arab region is one of the most important elements of strength, as youth represent about 60% of the total population. This high percentage of youth opens wide doors to invest in training them and honing their technical skills, and to contribute to enhancing the region’s competitiveness in the global digital labor market. In addition, the annual government budget allocations to finance digital infrastructure projects can make a significant difference in the digital presence of Arab countries.
In the context of taking advantage of these opportunities, digital transformation in vital sectors such as health, education and agriculture represents an important gateway to a qualitative shift in the Arab economy, providing new job opportunities, and achieving economic diversification. In addition, regional cooperation between Arab countries in the field of technology will contribute to the exchange of expertise and unification of efforts to address common challenges and develop the region’s ability to compete on the global stage.
In order for Arab countries to be able to catch up with digital development, they need a set of integrated strategic steps. The first of these steps is to develop the education system and update curricula to focus on 21st century skills, such as programming and data analysis. This should not be limited to academic education, but should extend to developing the future workforce by investing in specialized training programs to qualify young people in advanced technology fields and enable them to contribute effectively to the national digital economy.
At the same time, governments must invest in developing digital infrastructure by building fast and reliable communications networks and providing the energy requirements necessary to support these technologies. Providing an attractive environment for investment in technology startups will also contribute to enhancing innovation and creating more job opportunities. On the other hand, raising the level of cybersecurity is an urgent necessity in light of the increasing digital threats, and this requires the establishment of strict laws to protect personal data, and building local capabilities to confront the increasing cyber threats.
Another axis that cannot be disputed is the axis of international cooperation, which represents a fundamental pillar to support digital transformation, as cooperation with advanced countries in the field of technology and the exchange of knowledge and expertise will enable Arab countries to benefit from the best global practices. In this context, it becomes necessary to establish policies that stimulate investment in the field of technology, in addition to addressing the bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the growth and development of priority sectors, especially those related to technological infrastructure, digital education, and the development of specialized human skills.
In conclusion, the race towards digital arms is no longer an option, but rather a strategic necessity, and Arab countries must place political will at the forefront of their priorities to drive the agenda of digital transformation and economic progress. Naturally, this requires directing efforts and resources towards achieving national and regional goals, supported by a clear future vision, strategic investments and well-thought-out implementation plans, to be able to overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities as a condition for achieving an influential position in the global digital economy.