Bahrain Ranks 16th Globally for Digital Business Readiness

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has emerged as a leading force in the Arab world for digital business readiness, according to two key global economic reports. These reports illustrate Bahrain’s growing role in the region, particularly regarding its digital infrastructure and the ease of conducting online business. Bahrain’s global ranking of 16th in digital readiness among emerging markets reflects its expanding influence in the digital economy.

In the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, which looks at countries based on their logistics infrastructure and digital economy growth, Bahrain holds the 16th spot worldwide. This puts it just behind Oman, which is 13th, and ahead of Kuwait, which is 17th. The UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia also made strong global rankings, with the UAE in first place, Qatar in fourth, and Saudi Arabia in sixth, showcasing the Gulf region’s strong digital transformation.

Bahrain's achievements were further recognised in a CEOWORLD magazine report, ranking Bahrain fourth among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the 2024 Ease of Digital Business Index. The UAE topped the Gulf region, followed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and then Bahrain. This reflects Bahrain's competitive digital landscape, which continues to draw investment and support a growing tech sector.

The CEOWORLD report, part of the 2024 Global Investment Confidence Index, assessed the top 128 countries for e-commerce and digital market appeal. Bahrain’s good ranking is attributed to factors like market potential, a skilled workforce, entrepreneurial spirit, and a supportive institutional environment. Security, privacy, and government policies also make Bahrain an attractive spot for digital business.

Globally, the United States was rated as the best country for ease of digital business, staying the most appealing market for investors and skilled workers. China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany followed in the top five. India, France, South Korea, Canada, and the UAE made up the top ten. Other notable countries included Taiwan, Singapore, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Russia, ranked from 11th to 15th.

The CEOWORLD Global Investment Confidence Index was based on a survey of over 120,000 senior executives and business leaders from around the globe, covering 128 different countries and regions. The survey evaluated each country on five key factors: market potential, a skilled workforce, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the security and privacy environment provided by government policies, with each factor equally weighted in the final rankings.