MCIT, Google Cloud Launch National Upskilling Initiative

Doha, September 23, 2026 : In a move that reinforces Qatar's investment in digital skills development and capacity building, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in collaboration with Google Cloud and through Qatar Digital Academy, has launched a national upskilling initiative set to deliver more than 50,000 training seats by 2030.

The initiative is designed to build the skills needed to harness artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced digital technologies, while strengthening workforce readiness to adopt modern technologies in line with the demands of digital transformation and the digital economy.

The program forms part of MCIT's broader efforts to develop human capital and cultivate a wide base of digital talent capable of keeping pace with rapid technological change and meeting the specialized skills needs of various sectors. It offers an integrated capacity-building pathway that begins with foundational digital skills and extends into specialized programs for leaders, technical professionals, and developers — further enhancing the workforce's ability to effectively adopt and apply modern technologies in the workplace.

HE Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at MCIT, Reem Mohammed Al Mansoori, said building digital capabilities remains a key priority in Qatar's digital transformation journey, noting that the initiative expands investment in skills by offering specialized training pathways tailored to the needs of the workforce, executive leaders, and technical professionals. She added that, by providing over 50,000 training seats by 2030, the program aims to build a broad base of talent capable of leveraging artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, and developing digital solutions that enhance institutional efficiency and support the growth of the digital economy.

Al Mansoori further noted that the program carries particular significance in light of the Digital Agenda 2030 targets, which include creating approximately 26,000 jobs in the information and communications technology sector by 2030, and boosting the capabilities of ICT professionals by 10 percent through advanced skills development. She said the program translates these targets into practical capacity-building pathways spanning artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced digital technologies.

For his part, Ghassan Kosta, Regional General Manager at Google Cloud, said the company's expanded skilling collaboration with MCIT builds on having trained more than 12,000 individuals across Qatar over the past five years, scaling that commitment to deliver over 50,000 learning opportunities by 2030. He added that, through specialized frameworks such as the Advanced Solutions Lab and targeted curricula for Gemini Enterprise and Google Looker, the partnership provides the structured technical proficiency required to architect and deploy enterprise-scale cloud and AI solutions.

The program is being launched under the five-year framework agreement between MCIT and Google Cloud. The announcement was made during the Google Cloud Summit Doha 2026, held at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), coinciding with the third anniversary of the launch of the Google Cloud region in Doha. 

Source: QNA