Young people across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are significantly outperforming their global peers in key digital skills, with programming standing out as one of the biggest areas of advantage.
Around 31.8 per cent of GCC youth possess programming skills, compared with just 6 per cent globally, according to data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-STAT). This means young people in the region are more than five times as likely to have programming capabilities as their global peers.
The findings were published in a weekly bulletin marking International Youth Day. They also highlight the GCC’s stronger performance in privacy settings, information verification, social networking and file-copying skills.
GCC youth lead in programming and digital skills
Programming showed the widest gap between GCC youth and the global average. However, the region also recorded substantially higher levels across other essential digital capabilities.
About 75.9 per cent of young people in the GCC have privacy settings skills, compared with 34 per cent globally. Similarly, 61.6 per cent possess information verification skills, against a worldwide average of 24 per cent.
Meanwhile, social networking skills are widespread among young people in the region. The data shows that 95.2 per cent of GCC youth possess these skills, compared with 68 per cent globally.
File-copying skills recorded the highest rate, with 100 per cent of GCC youth included in the data possessing this capability. The corresponding global figure stands at 54 per cent.
GCC youth outperform global averages across five key skills
- File copying: 100 per cent in the GCC versus 54 per cent globally
- Social networking: 95.2 per cent versus 68 per cent
- Privacy settings: 75.9 per cent versus 34 per cent
- Information verification: 61.6 per cent versus 24 per cent
- Programming: 31.8 per cent versus 6 per cent
The figures point to a growing digital skills base among young people across the Gulf. Moreover, these capabilities could support their participation in increasingly technology-driven labour markets.
GCC education spending supports future skills development
The stronger digital skills performance comes as GCC countries continue to invest heavily in education and human capital development.
Government spending on education in some GCC countries reached around 17 per cent in 2024. By comparison, the global average stood at 12.6 per cent.
This investment forms part of broader efforts to prepare younger generations for technological change. It also supports the development of skills required for employment, entrepreneurship and innovation.
As Gulf economies accelerate their digital transformation, demand for technical and digital capabilities is likely to increase. Therefore, skills such as programming and information verification could become increasingly important for future workforce participation.
Information verification and privacy skills gain importance
The GCC’s performance also extends beyond technical skills.
Privacy management and information verification have become increasingly important as individuals spend more time online and use digital platforms for work, education and communication.
Young people in the GCC recorded a 41.9 percentage-point advantage over the global average in privacy settings skills. They also outperformed the global average in information verification by 37.6 percentage points.
These skills can help young people navigate digital platforms more safely. In addition, they may support responsible participation in an increasingly connected economy.
Digital skills could strengthen the GCC’s future workforce
The findings underline the GCC’s efforts to develop a workforce equipped for the digital economy.
Programming, information verification and privacy management are becoming increasingly relevant across industries. Furthermore, digital skills can support innovation, entrepreneurship and access to new employment opportunities.
The data also aligns with broader international development goals focused on improving access to education and employment-related skills.
As GCC countries continue investing in education and skills development, their young populations could play an increasingly important role in supporting innovation and economic diversification.
