AMMAN, Oct. 20 (Petra) – Jordan has advanced to 6th place regionally in the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026, driven by a major expansion in integrated e-government services, robust national cybersecurity infrastructure, and accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Data from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship shows Jordan’s overall index score surged to 59.6 points in 2026, up from 52.6 points in 2024, outperforming the regional average of 44.33 points by 15.27 points. Jordan now ranks directly behind the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.

The Kingdom outperformed the Arab average across all eight evaluated pillars. Jordan recorded its highest score in socioeconomic impact at 71.85 points, followed by cybersecurity and data sovereignty at 69.7 points, digital governance and institutions at 60 points, and digital infrastructure at 59.7 points. In innovation and technology as well as data economy and AI, Jordan scored 53.8 points in each, exceeding the regional average by over 19 points.

The index highlighted dramatic progress between 2024 and 2026 across several core indicators. The e-government services score jumped from 46.8 to 75.9 points, while cybersecurity readiness surged from 70.5 to 98.3 points. In technology adoption, Jordan's national AI strategy achieved a perfect score of 100 points, up from 50 points in 2024, while emerging technology adoption rose from 27.9 to 76.8 points.

Commenting on the results, Falcons Soft CEO Haitham Al-Rawajbeh emphasized that the advancement reflects sustained public-private collaboration, stressing that long-term success relies on converting technological gains into job creation, foreign direct investment, and a shift from technology consumption to tech export.

Ajloun National University President Dr. Firas Al-Hanandeh noted that the jump in e-government scores marks an operational transition from planned digitization to functional everyday services, adding that a clear national AI roadmap provides essential confidence for international investors.

Information technology expert Wasfi Al-Safadi highlighted that Jordan's next strategic priority is closing the gap with international benchmarks by expanding e-commerce logistics, fostering startup venture capital, and upskilling human capital to maximize economic returns.

//Petra// AA