Programme Objectives and Scope
The UAE Digital Economy Strategy targets growing the digital economy’s contribution to GDP from approximately 7 percent to 20 percent by 2031, representing one of the most ambitious digital economy growth targets in the world. The strategy encompasses five pillars: digital infrastructure (5G, fibre, cloud, data centres), digital government services (100 percent digital service delivery), digital skills and talent (coding programmes, digital literacy, remote work visas), digital entrepreneurship (start-up ecosystem, venture capital, accelerators), and digital trade and commerce (e-commerce, fintech, platform economy). The programme recognises that digital transformation is not a standalone sector but a horizontal capability that enhances productivity and creates value across every economic sector.
Key Targets and KPIs
The headline target is 20 percent of GDP from the digital economy by 2031. Supporting KPIs include the number of digital companies operating in the UAE, the volume of e-commerce transactions, fintech adoption rates, the number of coders and digital professionals in the workforce, the percentage of government services delivered digitally, cloud computing adoption across enterprises, cybersecurity readiness scores, and the number of unicorn technology companies headquartered or operating in the UAE. The strategy also tracks digital infrastructure metrics including 5G coverage, fibre penetration, data centre capacity, and internet speed rankings.
Implementation Status and Progress
Substantial progress has been achieved across multiple workstreams. The UAE’s 5G network coverage, delivered by e& and du, is among the most comprehensive globally. Government digital services through UAE PASS, TAMM (Abu Dhabi), and DubaiNow achieve high adoption rates. The coding programme, One Million Arab Coders (now National Programme for Coders), has trained hundreds of thousands of participants. Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has established a regulated environment for digital asset companies. The DIFC Innovation Hub and Hub71 in Abu Dhabi have attracted hundreds of fintech and technology start-ups. E-commerce penetration has grown rapidly, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The remote work visa, introduced under Projects of the 50, has attracted digital professionals from global markets.
Lead and Supporting Institutions
The UAE AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office coordinates the strategy at the federal level. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) manages digital infrastructure regulation and digital government standards. The Ministry of Economy oversees digital trade and e-commerce frameworks. Financial regulators — the Central Bank of the UAE, ADGM’s FSRA, and DIFC’s DFSA — govern fintech and digital financial services. Emirate-level digital authorities (Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, Dubai Digital Authority) implement local digital transformation programmes. Hub71, DIFC Innovation Hub, and Dubai Internet City support the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Relationship to We the UAE 2031 Pillars
The Digital Economy Strategy is a cornerstone of the Economy Pillar of We the UAE 2031, with the 20 percent GDP target directly embedded in the national vision. The strategy supports the society pillar through digital skills development, remote work opportunities, and digital inclusion programmes that ensure all segments of the population benefit from digital transformation. The sustainability pillar benefits from digital solutions for energy management, transport optimisation, and resource efficiency. The global engagement pillar is reinforced by the UAE’s positioning as a global digital economy hub that attracts technology companies, digital nomads, and venture capital.
Funding and Resource Allocation
Investment in the digital economy strategy is distributed across multiple institutional budgets. Federal allocations flow through TDRA for digital infrastructure and government services. The national coding programme receives dedicated funding. Financial regulators invest in regulatory technology and licensing infrastructure. Abu Dhabi and Dubai allocate substantial emirate-level budgets for their respective digital transformation programmes. Hub71 is backed by Mubadala’s technology investment arm. Private sector investment — including telecoms infrastructure spend by e& and du, data centre development by hyperscalers and local operators, and venture capital deployed into start-ups — constitutes the largest share of total digital economy investment. Total public and private investment in digital economy infrastructure and services is estimated in the hundreds of billions of dirhams through 2031.