Appendix A1: GCC AI Activities Codebook (2018–2025)

This codebook provides a structured, empirical overview of 46 publicly announced AI-related activities across six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, covering the years 2018 to 2025. It systematically captures national strategies, institutional developments, major projects, and the public–private collaborations driving AI adoption in the region. Each entry details the year of the announcement, the involved organizations, the key objectives, and the primary outcomes, highlighting the ways AI is shaping workforce development, research agendas, and governance frameworks in each country.

By presenting information in a consistent, chronological format, the codebook highlights region-wide trends such as the rise of specialized AI governing bodies including the Saudi Data & AI Authority and the UAE’s Ministry of State for Artificial Intelligence, the development of large language models tailored to Arabic such as KSA’s “Noor” and the UAE’s “Jais”, and the rapid expansion of AI-focused education and upskilling programs. It also underscores the importance of ethical and regulatory considerations, with several countries introducing formal AI governance frameworks and guidelines.

Researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders will find value in this compendium for comparative analysis and strategic planning. While it does not aim to capture every AI initiative across the GCC, it distills the most influential, publicly disclosed efforts that are shaping the region’s AI landscape. Comprehensive references support each entry, making the codebook a reliable, data-driven resource for understanding how AI is transforming key sectors such as finance, healthcare, oil and gas, and urban development throughout the Gulf region.