Doha: HE President of National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Malki emphasized that artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, has shown remarkable capabilities and opened vast opportunities, yet it also presents significant challenges for individuals and communities. HE Al Malki highlighted Qatar’s commitment to keeping pace with technological transformations while proactively addressing associated risks. National strategies, including Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy and National Cybersecurity Strategy, focus on leveraging technology for sustainable growth while ensuring a secure digital environment.
According to Qatar News Agency, the NCSA, His Excellency added, released AI guidelines last year, offering institutions a framework for deploying AI securely and effectively. These guidelines educate users about potential threats posed by emerging technologies while helping them develop solutions for challenges arising from rapid digital advancements. HE Al Malki stressed that enhancing cybersecurity readiness and building digital resilience is an ongoing journey filled with challenges. Rather than being an obstacle to digital transformation, cybersecurity serves as an enabler, ensuring safe technological advancements while protecting digital infrastructure for both institutions and individuals.
HE the NCSA President affirmed that the State of Qatar has been at the forefront of digital rights protection, issuing one of the first Personal Data Privacy Protection Laws, which guarantees individual and community data security amid rapid technological advancements. As AI increasingly handles massive amounts of personal data, digital privacy protection is becoming a fundamental human right, aligning seamlessly with Qatar Vision 2030 to strengthen societal security and promote technological confidence.
HE Regional Director for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Dr. Mary Kawar emphasized that AI is reshaping all aspects of life, making responsible governance essential. According to a recent UNDP Human Development Report, Her Excellency stated, nearly 70% of people in countries with low or medium human development indices anticipate AI will enhance productivity, while two-thirds expect AI to transform education, healthcare, and employment within the next year.
HE Kawar explained that to harness AI’s potential, the report outlines the three critical focus areas of promoting collaboration between humans and AI rather than competition, ensuring human involvement in all AI development phases, from design to implementation, and modernizing education and healthcare systems to align with 21st-century technological advancements. Her Excellency added that while AI holds immense potential to accelerate sustainable development and contribute to economic growth, it also presents risks, including biases, discrimination, mass surveillance, and deepening societal inequalities. Kawar noted that the Arab region faces distinct challenges, undergoing both rapid digital transitions and persistent development struggles.
In closing, HE Kawar stressed the importance of responsible AI use, underscoring that at its core, AI must prioritize human dignity and operate within a framework of fundamental rights.