Beirut, Lebanon (Enmaeya News) — The Lebanese Council of Ministers has approved a draft law to establish the country’s first Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence (MITAI), a move hailed as a landmark step-in public-sector modernization. The proposal now awaits parliamentary approval.

The new ministry, the first institutional creation in Lebanon since 1993, will transform the existing State Ministry into an independent body, reflecting the government’s commitment to digital governance and technological advancement.

“This decision is not merely an administrative adjustment,” said Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Minister of the Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence. “It is a strategic step that demonstrates a clear political will to invest in Lebanon’s future and build an economy rooted in knowledge, technology, and digital transformation.”

Dr. Shehadi, an economist and policy expert with a PhD in Political Economy from Columbia University and a Harvard University degree, previously chaired Lebanon’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and held senior roles in major telecom firms across the Middle East. He has led digital transformation and legal modernization initiatives, positioning him to oversee the country’s institutional modernization.

MITAI’s mandate will cover the development of national digital strategy, creation of smart governance frameworks, inclusive digital policies, and public-private partnerships. The ministry will also manage a unified national digital platform for public services, enhance cybersecurity, protect personal data, and promote the digital economy through skills training, job creation, and strategic investment.

Internationally, the ministry aims to position Lebanon as a regional hub for technology and innovation, attracting investors and showcasing Lebanese talent. Its objectives are outlined in the government’s charter and endorsed by the President, making MITAI a central pillar of the national policy agenda.