Tunisia is positioning itself as a leading Arab nation in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for economic transformation, according to the Arab Economic Report published February 5, 2026, by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). The report identifies AI as a critical driver for financial inclusion and innovation across the region.
Tunisia has built a structured AI ecosystem since launching its national strategy in 2018, focused on creating a knowledge-based society. Foundational to this effort is the development of an open data ecosystem, aimed at fueling AI applications and enhancing transparency.
Key initiatives include:
- Establishing innovation hubs like Novation City and the El Ghazala Technology Park to bridge academia, research, and startups.
- Enacting a groundbreaking 2018 startup law—the first in Africa—to stimulate investment in digital and AI ventures.
- Hosting major regional AI software competitions to attract talent and capital.
The AMF report notes Tunisia scores relatively high on the Government AI Readiness Index, acknowledging progress while noting ongoing challenges in digital infrastructure and project implementation speeds. The government is currently modernizing its AI strategy to align with global trends.
Sustained Digital Push
These efforts are part of a broader digital transformation vision to ensure social and financial inclusion and digitize public services.
Under the “Tunisia 2025” strategic plan, authorities have worked to upgrade legislative frameworks, bolster communication infrastructure, and advance cybersecurity. Priorities for 2026, outlined in the Finance Law, include:
- Accelerating the full digitization of state institutions.
- Finalizing and executing the national AI strategy’s operational plan.
- Promoting digital skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Cybersecurity remains a top priority, with plans to launch a 2026-2030 national strategy, complete audits of public institutions, and establish sectoral incident response centers. Additionally, digital identity services will be integrated into the offerings of the national electronic certification agency, TUNTRUST, to support secure online public services.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
