Al-Masri: More than 60% of Jordanian IT companies integrate AI, and 20% develop IoT solutions
Amman4 min read
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Executive Director of Programs at the Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan (int@j), Ziad Al-Masri, stated that more than 60% of Jordanian IT companies integrate artificial intelligence into their products and services, while 20% of companies are working on developing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, the growth of which is supported by the expansion of 5G networks. He noted that growth opportunities in the sector also include fintech, cloud services, and IT and business process outsourcing.
He pointed out that Jordan ranks 29th globally in the AI diffusion index, 49th globally and second in the Arab world in the Global Responsible AI Index. It is also classified in the "Role-Model" category in the Global Cybersecurity Index issued by the International Telecommunication Union, and ranks fifth in the National Cybersecurity Index with a score of 93.33 points.
This came during his participation in the "Discover Digital Jordan 2026" event, organized by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship under the Jordan Source program, with the participation of 15 executive leaders, founders, and investors in the technology sector from four continents.
Supplementing the indicators of Jordan's digital standing, Al-Masri indicated that the Kingdom ranks 21st globally and fourth in the Arab world in the World Bank's GovTech Maturity Index, 65th globally and sixth in the Arab world in the Global Innovation Index, in addition to ranking 44th globally in digital competitiveness and 15th in business agility.
At the beginning, Al-Masri expressed his thanks to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship for its role in organizing this event, hosting potential investors, and giving Jordanian companies the opportunity to network with them.
In his presentation on opportunities for expanding digital services, he explained that the increasing demand for cloud infrastructure, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and data centers in the region provides opportunities for Jordanian companies, in parallel with the expansion of digital payment solutions and financial inclusion initiatives, building on the experience of the mobile payment system.
He stated that the digital services user base in the Kingdom includes 3.03 million e-wallet users and three million digital identities via the "Sanad" application, while the number of social media users reaches 6.8 million, and 97.5% of households own smartphones.
He noted that this environment is based on investments in digital infrastructure, including the expansion of fiber-optic networks and data centers, and the commercial launch of 5G services in 2023, explaining that the average mobile internet speed is 47.39 Mbps, compared to 186.38 Mbps for fixed internet.
Regarding the size of the sector and its economic contribution, Al-Masri said that the ICT sector generates annual revenues exceeding $4.1 billion, contributes 4% to the GDP, includes more than 2,000 active companies, and provides more than 46,000 direct job opportunities.
He added that the sector constitutes one of the pillars of the Economic Modernization Vision and digital transformation in the Kingdom, noting that the vision aims to reach 101,000 employees by 2033, reflecting the potential for expansion in digital businesses and services.
Regarding the talent base supporting this expansion, he explained that 81% of universities offer IT-related programs, and 22% of graduates hold degrees in IT, computer science, and engineering, while females make up more than 40% of ICT graduates.
He indicated that university programs cover a wide range of specializations, as 28 universities offer computer science, 19 universities offer software engineering, 18 universities offer cybersecurity and network security, while 15 universities offer data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence specializations.
Al-Masri linked the availability of these skills to outsourcing expansion opportunities, explaining that the Jordanian services portfolio includes cybersecurity, data, business services, application and software development, and infrastructure, based on qualified competencies, a multilingual workforce, and expertise in providing services to global markets.
On the investment side, he pointed out that incentives for IT activities include reducing income tax to 5%, exempting export income from income tax, applying a zero-rate sales tax on local IT service sales and on goods and services used in production, in addition to exempting production inputs from customs duties and abolishing the minimum foreign investor capital contribution requirement.
Regarding the role of "int@j" in supporting sector growth, Al-Masri stated that int@j, established in 2000, continues its role in representing companies and enhancing their contribution to the national economy through eight pillars, including advocacy and influencing legislation and policies to serve sector growth, enabling the digital economy, providing data and information, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, preparing talent, expanding into markets, enhancing outsourcing services, and empowering women in technology.
