Artificial Intelligence Futures for the Arab Region

This flagship ESCWA report presents a forward-looking analysis of how artificial intelligence might reshape the Arab region by 2040. It explores AI’s potential across healthcare, education, cultural preservation, and government services, and identifies three strategic pathways: aligning global AI technologies with local needs, building culturally grounded Arabic-language AI systems, and leveraging AI to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Alongside promising opportunities—such as job creation and innovation—it also tackles critical challenges, including ethics, data governance, and inequality, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society.