Qatar ranks third regionally in skills proficiency as AI and career-focused learning accelerate

Doha, Qatar – 16 June 2025: Coursera, a leading online learning platform, today announced that Qatar ranks 3rd in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for overall skills proficiency, climbing to 40th place globally in 2025, up from 76th in 2023 and 58th in 2024, according to the platform's annual Global Skills Report. This leap reflects Qatar's ambitious push toward a diversified, knowledge-based economy and a future-ready workforce.

Drawing on data from Coursera's global community of over 170 million learners, the report identifies where skill proficiencies are rising, where gaps remain, and what drives learner behavior across more than 100 countries.

The seventh edition of the report reveals a 194% year-over-year increase in Generative AI (GenAI) enrollments and a 55% growth in Professional Certificate enrollments across Qatar, pointing to growing demand for flexible, job-relevant credentials that correspond to national transformation goals.

Qatar now leads the Arab world in technology and data science skills, scoring 64% in each domain, and also demonstrates strong performance in business skills with a score of 72%. These results align with the country's focus on digital and human capital development under its Digital Agenda 2030, which aims to boost professional competencies by 10% and grow the ICT sector to 3.5% of non-oil GDP by the end of the decade.

New to this year's report is the AI Maturity Index, which assesses countries' readiness for AI by combining Coursera learner data with external metrics from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Qatar ranks 45th globally out of 109 countries and among the top five in the region, signaling strong potential for AI-driven growth.

Qatar's growing investment in AI as a national priority is already shaping both learner behavior and employer demand. Based on the set of skills emphasized in the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, artificial intelligence and machine learning have emerged as the most in-demand skills among employers, with learner enrollments in these areas from Qatar rising by 145%. This surge supports the goals of Qatar's Artificial Intelligence Strategy and broader economic diversification agenda, especially as 41% of employees view AI as a crucial reskilling pathway.

'Driven by a clear vision for the future, Qatar is transforming its advanced digital infrastructure into a catalyst for AI-powered innovation and sustainable economic growth,' said Kais Zribi, Coursera's General Manager for the Middle East and Africa. 'Coursera's Global Skills Report 2025 underscores Qatar's commitment to human capital development as it proactively equips its workforce with advanced technical and job-relevant skills needed to excel in the digital age. This effort is poised to fuel further innovation, positioning Qatar as a regional leader in the digital economy.'

While AI and machine learning dominate employer priorities, learners in Qatar are increasingly focusing on other critical skill areas. Enrollments in critical thinking courses rose by 44%, reflecting a growing emphasis on problem-solving and workplace innovation. Top learner skill areas also include Leadership and Management, Management Training and Development, Corporate Accounting, and Process Management, all vital for the modern economy.

Among Coursera's 10.8 million learners in MENA, over 200,000 are based in Qatar, with a median age of 36. Nearly half (49%) of these learners access the platform via mobile devices. Today, 9% of Qatar's labor force is actively learning on Coursera, reflecting the nation's vision for digital fluency and workforce readiness.

Sustaining this momentum will require targeted workforce development efforts. With Qatar transitioning from infrastructure-led growth to innovation-driven productivity, addressing the acute shortage of AI and tech talent becomes increasingly critical. Continued focus on skills-based education, inclusive training programs, and greater private-sector involvement will be essential, particularly to boost women's participation, which currently accounts for just 35% of learners.