Qatar has established a new artificial intelligence company, Qai, as part of efforts to position the Gulf state as a global technology hub and diversify its economy beyond oil. The government said Qai, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority, will invest in and develop AI infrastructure locally and internationally while providing “secure and trusted” technologies across key sectors. It will also offer access to high-performance computing and tools to deploy scalable AI systems.
The launch follows similar moves by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, both of which have created national AI firms to attract global tech giants. Abdulla Al Misnad, chairman of Qai, said the company aims to keep “people and communities at the heart of AI development”. International financial institutions have urged Gulf states to pair AI investments with strong competition policies, worker reskilling, cybersecurity and sustainability measures to maximise productivity gains.