Assessment of Readiness for CBDCs Using CBDC Readiness Index: A Study of GCC Countries

This study proposes a tailored CBDC Readiness Index to benchmark how prepared GCC countries are to adopt and scale central bank digital currencies. As digital assets and CBDCs reshape global finance, GCC readiness is expected to vary due to differences in regulatory maturity, payment and ICT infrastructure, cybersecurity capacity, digital identity coverage, public trust, and cross-border ambitions. The index will assess multiple pillars: (1) macro-financial and monetary stability conditions; (2) legal and regulatory frameworks, including data governance, consumer protection, AML/CFT, and central bank mandates; (3) digital and payment infrastructure, including real-time systems, interoperability, and fintech ecosystem depth; (4) technology and cybersecurity resilience; (5) inclusion and adoption potential, such as smartphone penetration, digital literacy, and trust in e-money; and (6) regional and cross-border integration potential tied to trade, remittances, and settlement priorities. Methodologically, it will combine secondary data from central bank and international indicators with expert validation, using transparent weighting and robustness checks. Outputs include country rankings, pillar diagnostics, and policy recommendations to support safe, phased CBDC roadmaps.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)