While the world races ahead in a wave of unprecedented technological advancement, Lebanon’s digital transformation journey remains stalled, hampered by political gridlock, administrative disarray, and crumbling infrastructure. In an exclusive interview, digital transformation expert Raymond Khoury outlines the main challenges facing Lebanon and presents a comprehensive roadmap for launching an inclusive digital economy that serves both the state and its citizens.

Khoury stresses that the lack of prioritization by successive Lebanese governments is a core reason behind the failure of digital initiatives. He explains that while national strategies have been drafted and budgets allocated, execution has faltered due to a lack of unified political will and poor coordination between key stakeholders—namely, the Ministry of Telecommunications, the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, and the Ministry of Finance. The absence of enabling reforms, standardized operational procedures, and unified frameworks has prevented the establishment of a secure, integrated digital infrastructure across government institutions.

Reflecting on his experience at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Khoury insists that the will to act exists—but what’s lacking is a cohesive government that places digital transformation at the heart of its priorities and seriously commits to empowering national sectors through digital innovation. He believes that, with the right political will and stability, Lebanon can become a regional digital hub, especially given its wealth of human capital and a wide network of highly skilled expatriates working in tech.

Khoury identifies several urgent steps the Lebanese state must take to begin its transformation journey. Chief among them is upgrading the telecom infrastructure, expanding internet access and linking it to global networks, launching a comprehensive digital payment system, and establishing a secure national digital identity platform that provides multi-purpose cards to both citizens and residents, encompassing ID, driver’s license, and health card functionalities.

Drawing a comparison with Gulf countries, Khoury highlights the key differentiator: strong political will and clear strategic vision from the highest levels of government. These countries don’t merely adopt digital tools—they strive for leadership in the field by investing heavily in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and blockchain technologies. He emphasizes that inter-ministerial coordination and a unified government vision are central to the success of such models.

As for Lebanon’s way forward, Khoury proposes the formation of an operations room under a specially appointed minister to draft a national digital economy strategy with clear initiatives, measurable goals, and effective public-private partnerships. He also calls for the launch of ***hackathons to harness the creativity of Lebanese talents at home and abroad, as well as quick-win projects like digital portals for public services, training public sector employees and citizens in AI tools, and implementing smart tech solutions in public facilities such as airports.

For the average citizen, Khoury explains, digital transformation is about using technology to make daily life easier and public services more efficient—enabling 24/7 digital access, enhancing transparency in government processes, boosting efficiency, lowering costs, and ensuring greater inclusivity, especially for people with disabilities and residents of remote areas.

In conclusion, Khoury believes the opportunity is still within reach, provided the Lebanese state moves beyond hesitation and into serious execution. Only then can it catch up with global innovation and restore citizens’ trust in their homeland through the gateway of digital transformation.

Lebanon’s Digital Transformation: A Vision on Hold

Despite global technological leaps, Lebanon remains stuck in digital limbo.

Main Obstacles

▪️ Lack of political will

▪️ Fragmented stakeholders

▪️ Weak infrastructure

▪️ No operational reform

Why Implementation Failed

Though strategies, plans, and funding exist, political seriousness and a unified vision between ministries are absent.

Lebanon Has the Potential

▪️ Highly skilled human capital

▪️ Global Lebanese tech diaspora

▪️ Capacity to become a regional digital hub

Key First Steps

▪️ Improve telecom infrastructure

▪️ Launch a unified digital ID

▪️ Create public service e-portals

▪️ Establish a national digital payment system

*** A hackathon is a timed event where people collaborate to solve problems or create new technologies in a short period, often a few days. It's a mix of "hack" and "marathon," focusing on rapid, collaborative engineering.