AMMAN — Jordan climbed to sixth place in the 2026 Arab Digital Economy Index, released on Wednesday, achieving its highest ranking to date and leading among digitally emerging countries.

 

The Kingdom’s score rose to 59.6 points in 2026, up from 52.6 in 2024, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship. The improvement ended a four-edition streak in seventh place, which Jordan had held since 2018.

 

Jordan’s score exceeded the Arab regional average of 44.33 points by more than 15 points, placing the Kingdom behind the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

The Kingdom outperformed the regional average across all eight pillars assessed by the index. Its strongest performances were in social and economic impact, with 71.85 points; cybersecurity and data sovereignty, with 69.7 points; and digital governance and institutions, with 60 points.

 

Jordan scored 53.8 points in both innovation and emerging technologies, and the data economy and artificial intelligence (AI), exceeding the regional average by more than 19 points in each category.

 

Key improvements between 2024 and 2026 included a rise in the e-government services score from 46.8 to 75.9 points, an increase in cybersecurity from 70.5 to 98.3 points, and a jump in emerging technology adoption from 27.9 to 76.8 points. Jordan also scored a perfect 100 in its national AI strategy.

 

The report highlighted Jordan’s strengths in AI policy, cybersecurity, industrial diversity, technology adoption and integrated public e-services.

 

However, it identified several areas for improvement, including digital trade logistics, online shopping adoption, technology knowledge absorption, ownership of digital payment tools and start-up financing.

 

Every two years since 2018, the Arab Digital Economy Index publishes measures digital readiness across the region to help guide policymaking and investment. The 2026 edition placed particular emphasis on digital sovereignty and data control, Petra reported.