Data offers unparalleled opportunities for the governments to enhance their decision-making, service delivery, operations, economic policies, and the quality of life of their citizens. The MENA region’s governments have set strategic goals to position themselves as digital leaders and spearhead the data analytics utilization. As they have realized the importance of data, they have established dynamic strategies, such as the UAE Smart Data Strategy, to capitalize on the opportunities offered by data management and analytics technology.

Data-driven government is an approach for making strategic decisions based on the analysis and interpretation of data. This later, is a critical resource that can be used to improve operations, drive innovation, deliver better services to citizens and improve social development. However, certain limitations have always hindered the public sector in the region to capitalize on data, including skilled workforce, aging infrastructure, technical complexity, technical lag, regulatory framework, data security and privacy, and data governance, just to name a few.