Mideast web users could triple to 25m

Dubai: The Middle East has not been left out in the information autobahn; in fact, it has emerged as one of the global hotbeds for internet activity.

Statistics show that regional internet use has grown by a phenomenal 1,176.8 per cent from 2000 to 2008, with users expected to further triple to 25 million by 2009, a top official said.

Jamil Ezzo, director-general, International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL), GCC Foundation, said: "Leading the charge are several Gulf states that have invested heavily in IT infrastructure to expand the domestic internet experience.

"Gulf states such as the UAE have even initiated forward-thinking guidelines that will further liberalise internet access without compromising cultural values, in cognisance of this technology's importance in enhancing social and economic interaction in today's globalised world."

He said the statistics reflect a broad acceptance of the internet and the eagerness of a majority of governments to capitalise on information technology.

Ezzo added: "The quest for a more digitally-oriented society has become a must for countries seeking to achieve sustained development and a stronger presence in the global community.

"The Gulf has emerged as a model for the Middle East on how technology and cultural identity can successfully co-exist and influence rapid progress. The region's governments and businesses continue to be involved in various initiatives to boost the pervasiveness and productivity of digital technology."

In the 2000-08 period, the Middle East's growth was followed by Africa with 1,031.2 per cent and Latin America/Caribbean with 669.3 per cent.

Ezzo said digital technologies are no longer options, but a must for societal development, especially in regions such as the Gulf, which are breaking boundaries and asserting increasingly important roles in the global arena. In today's increasingly digitised world, nations can either link up or lose.

"The Gulf's public and private sectors are in the midst of an aggressive drive to promote a digital society throughout the region.

"GCC governments have been supporting a region-wide campaign to this end, with many basing the effectiveness of their efforts on key measures established by the ICDL's GCC Foundation," Ezzo said.

The foundation is a vendor-neutral organisation designated as the sole body to implement and disseminate the ICDL global computer literacy initiative, which seeks to raise the level of IT and computer competence in the region.