Business | Technology
Google to face two new search engines from the Arab world
After long dominating web searches in the Arab world, Google is being challenged by two upstart search engines designed solely for the Arabic language.
- By Ivan Gale, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 October 11, 2006
- Online advertising, the primary source of revenue for search engines, registered a paltry $15 million in the Arab world last year.
- Image Credit:
Dubai: After long dominating web searches in the Arab world, Google is being challenged by two upstart search engines designed solely for the Arabic language.
Maktoob Group, which operates an Arabic online community, last month launched a search engine called Araby.com. Currently in beta mode, the Arabic-language site is expected to officially launch in early 2007.
Also early next year, a joint venture between a Saudi and German firm will unveil an ambitious project nicknamed Sawafi. Seekport Internet Technologies and the Saudi Arabian Mitsco Group have invested over $10 million in the endeavour, which was originally plan-ned for an October launch but has since suffered minor delays. Dubai-based Madar Research is providing market research for the project.
Both projects are looking to capitalise on the small but rapidly growing world of Internet users in the Middle East, and will seek to archive the 100 million-plus web pages in the Arabic language.
Online advertising, the primary source of revenue for search engines, registered a paltry $15 million in the Arab world last year, according to Madar Research, compared with $15 billion in the US.
The projections see advertising climbing dramatically in the coming years, however. By 2010, Madar predicts ad revenue could top $150 million.
Also, although Internet penetration among Arab countries is low, with Saudi at 13 to 15 per cent and the UAE at 25 to 30 per cent, both firms feel now is the right time to enter the market.
"You need a critical mass for Internet penetration and now is the right time," said Hermann Havermann, CEO of Sawafi, noting that penetrating rates are set to rise dramatically.
A trend towards localised search engines was sweeping the globe, he said, with local entrants in China, Russia and elsewhere with local language.
Share this article
More from Technology
More from Business
Popular in Business
-
General
Precious jump
Gold prices at new high as India's central bank buys $6.7b worth of gold
Business Editor's choice
-
UAE companies in full force at WTM
Seventy-eight participants are from Dubai and 50 from Abu Dhabi
-
DIFC committed to high standards
Ensures an efficient process to serve the business community
-
Sweet life in the Middle East
A sweet look at the confectionary industry in the UAE and Middle East
