Qatari newspapers reported on 20 October 2026 that His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, had ratified Cabinet Decision No. (34) of 2026 on the organisation of selected administrative units within the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the definition of their mandates. The most detailed account we have used is from The Peninsula; Qatar Tribune and Gulf Times also reported the decision. We have not obtained the decision text from an official gazette or a ministry webpage at the time of writing, so the facts below are attributed to those news reports.
According to The Peninsula, the decision includes the establishment of the National Center for AI and the Digital Capability Development and Training Department, as part of efforts to develop the ministry’s institutional structure, strengthen the digital capabilities of national talent, and improve readiness for rapid change in the ICT sector.
The paper quoted H.E. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, as saying: “In line with the wise leadership’s directives, this administrative reorganization comes in response to the rapid transformations in the information and communications technology sector, particularly in artificial intelligence, in a manner that enhances the Ministry’s readiness to keep pace with these changes and supports the development of regulatory frameworks, policies, and national capabilities.”
The minister said, The Peninsula reported, that “the establishment of the National Center for AI represents a strategic step to unify and coordinate the State’s efforts in this field, accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence applications, and strengthen the State of Qatar’s position among the leading digital economies, in support of the implementation of the Digital Agenda 2030 and the goals of the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3).”
He also said investment in national talent is one of the fundamental pillars of digital transformation, and that the new training department is intended to design and implement specialised programmes, build career pathways and professional certifications, and strengthen partnerships with academic and technology institutions.
The Peninsula reported that the National Center for AI will report directly to the minister. Comprising three departments, it will lead and coordinate artificial intelligence efforts at the national level, including preparing and following up on the National AI Strategy, developing relevant regulatory frameworks and policies, supporting entities in adopting AI applications, and promoting the use of data across sectors.
The new administrative structure also reorganises several units under the undersecretary, with the Digital Capability Development and Training Department responsible for designing and delivering training programmes, enhancing technical and digital skills, developing competency-assessment tools, and establishing academic and technology partnerships.