Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming public - sector processes worldwide, yet standardized measures rarely address the unique drivers, governance models, and cultural nuances of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This study employs a theory - driven foundation derived from an in - depth analysis of literature review and six National AI Strategies (NASs), coupled with a data - driven approach that utilizes a survey of 203 mid - and senior - level government employees and advanced statistical techniques (K - Means clustering, Principal Component Analysis, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling). By combining policy insights with empirical evidence, the research develops and validates a novel AI Adoption Index specifically tailored to the GCC public sector. Findings indicate that robust technical infrastructure and clear policy mandates exert the strongest influence on successful AI implementations, overshadowing organizational readiness in early adoption stages. The combined model explains 70% of the variance in AI outcomes, suggesting that resource - rich environments and top - down policy directives can drive rapid but uneven technology uptake. By consolidating key dimensions (Technical Infrastructure (TI), Organizational Readiness (O R), and Governance Environment (GE)) into a single composite index, this study provides a holistic yet context - sensitive tool for benchmarking AI maturity. The index offers actionable guidance for policymakers seeking to harmonize large - scale deployments w ith ethical and regulatory standards. Beyond advancing academic discourse, these insights inform more strategic allocation of resources, cross - country cooperation, and capacity - building initiatives, thereby supporting sustained AI - driven transformation in the GCC region and beyond.

Failure to use data effectively means we cannot deal with the most pressing issues that face us today, such as discrimination. Addressing this requires institutions that are fit to enable responsible use of data and technology for the public good, engaging civil society and the public as well as industry and government. The Royal Society's Data Governance Explainer (PDF) brings welcome clarity to a complex landscape. It builds upon another Royal Society report published in 2017, written in partnership with the British Academy, that helped set the wheels in motion within the government to create the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI). Since then, the UK institutional landscape has seen an expansion of organisations that are working together to better understand how we effectively and responsibly adopt data-driven technologies and artificial intelligence.