Arab internet users reach 348 million as digital transformation accelerates: Report
Internet users in the Arab region now total approximately 348 million, representing 70.2 per cent of the total population of 496 million, according to research conducted by Galal & Karawi Management Consulting in collaboration with Orient Planet Research.
The study on digital transformation in the Arab World also found that social media usage has increased to 228 million users, or 46 per cent of the total population.
Rising Arab internet penetration
Drawing information from sources including DataReportal, GSMA Intelligence, Statista, Semrush, and Sky, the research compares digital landscapes between the Arab League and European Union.
Eng. Asem Galal, Co-founder of Galal & Karawi Management Consulting, highlighted that digital platforms now form the foundation of Arab governments' engagement strategies with Millennial and Gen Z populations.
He stressed the necessity of developing national digital content that reflects the region's cultural identity while incorporating artificial intelligence technologies.
This approach, Galal explained, plays a crucial role in stimulating community interaction and public participation. His observations align with the digital transformation initiatives implemented by various Arab governments to foster sustainable development and establish a forward-looking digital ecosystem
Dr. Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director of Orient Planet Group, noted that 'The statistics are a testament to the expanding digital potential within the Arab region, establishing it as an epicentre for innovation and growth.'
'By embracing the latest technological innovations and fortifying the digital infrastructure, we can enhance global competitiveness, attract investments in technology and knowledge-based sectors, and expedite the process of digital transformation,' he added.
Arab-EU digital gap narrows
The research reveals that the digital divide between the Arab World and European Union is shrinking.
While the EU has approximately 419 million internet users, the Arab region follows with 348 million, a difference of only 71 million users.
Social media usage shows even closer figures, with the EU having roughly 230 million users compared to the Arab World's 228 million.
Egypt leads social media usage in the region with 50.7 million users, followed by Iraq with 34.3 million and Saudi Arabia with 34.1 million.
Algeria ranks fourth with 25.6 million users, while Morocco and the UAE account for 21.3 million and 11.3 million users, respectively.
These countries collectively represent 77 per cent of all social media users in the Arab World.
Platform dominance by region
The study identifies distinct trends in platform preferences across Arab countries. TikTok dominates in Gulf states—Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain—while also maintaining popularity in Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Mauritania, Yemen and Somalia.
Facebook remains the primary platform in North African countries (excluding Egypt), including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya, and maintains strong presence in Palestine and the Comoros.
YouTube serves as the main platform for visual, educational and entertainment content in Egypt, Jordan and Oman. Snapchat continues to thrive in the Gulf region, particularly in Saudi Arabia with 24.7 million users.
LinkedIn shows significant usage in economically active countries, with Saudi Arabia recording around 11 million users and the UAE with 9.4 million.
Demographic indicators highlight how the Arab region's young population is shaping its digital future, with individuals under 35 accounting for approximately 62.8 per cent of the total population. The region experiences an annual population growth rate of 2.1 per cent.
In contrast, the EU's youth population represents only 37.6 per cent of the total population, with a growth rate of 0.41 per cent annually.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sharjah 24
an hour ago
- Sharjah 24
Hazza bin Zayed performs Eid Al Adha prayer
Sermon highlights the values of Eid During the prayer, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed listened to the Eid sermon, in which the imam emphasized the profound spiritual and social importance of Eid Al Adha. The sermon highlighted themes such as the strengthening of family ties, unity, compassion, and community cohesion. The imam also offered prayers for the UAE's continued security, prosperity, and stability under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Receiving Eid greetings at Al Maqam Palace Following the prayer, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed received well-wishers at Al Maqam Palace in Al Ain. The visitors included sheikhs, government officials, dignitaries, residents of Al Ain, and members of various communities in the region. They extended their Eid Al Adha greetings and well wishes, praying for Sheikh Hazza's health and for continued progress and prosperity for the UAE. They also expressed hopes for peace and blessings for the Arab and Islamic worlds on this sacred occasion.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio to Launch 830 Million New Leones (€34 Million) Solar Minigrid Project, Powering Sierra Leone's Green Future
In a landmark step toward sustainable development and inclusive energy access, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio is set to officially launch the Salone Off-grid Renewable Energy Acceleration Initiative (SOGREA), a €34 million (approximately 830 million New Leones) solar minigrid project that will significantly advance Sierra Leone's green energy future. Hosted by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), the initiative is a collaborative effort between the Government of Sierra Leone, the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). SOGREA aims to increase energy access in rural communities across the country by 2027, deploying at least 5.2 megawatts peak (MWp) of solar generation capacity through the installation of minigrids. The project is set to benefit 25,000 households and 2,800 businesses across approximately 60 communities, offering them reliable, clean, and affordable electricity for the first time. To brief the President on the status and next steps of the project, EU Ambassador Jacek Jankowski, accompanied by Dr. Kandeh Yumkella and other private sector partners, visited State House today. The high-level delegation engaged President Bio on the technical, regulatory, and financial readiness of the initiative, and reaffirmed their collective commitment to ensuring its success. Speaking during the meeting, President Bio expressed deep appreciation to the EU for their steadfast partnership and support in fulfilling his administration's promise of inclusive development across Sierra Leone. 'Taking energy to the people is key,' the President emphasized. 'This project is a significant milestone. It demonstrates mutual trust and confidence with our partners, especially at a time when development assistance is dwindling globally. This shows we still enjoy goodwill.' He further assured the visitors of his government's commitment to building the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks: 'I am aware of the revised regulations for the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC), and my government will ensure Parliament sets the required legal framework to support implementation.' The President added, 'Together, we will make electricity accessible to all and no one will be left behind.' At the heart of SOGREA's success is its catalytic investment model, which blends public and private sector support to create a sustainable ecosystem for minigrid development. Energy Sector lead, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, a driving force behind the initiative, explained that over the last two years, critical groundwork has been laid, including the revision of existing regulations under the EWRC Act and the design of investment incentives to attract private developers. He confirmed that implementation agreements have been signed and that President Bio will officially launch the project. Ambassador Jacek Jankowski, Head of the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, underscored the importance of the initiative as a major milestone in the country's pursuit of clean energy and rural transformation. 'We are proud to support a project of this magnitude,' he said. 'The EU's total investment stands at €34 million, including €22 million in direct investment support and technical assistance, while the Government of Sierra Leone is contributing 50 million Leones.' The project was developed in partnership with UNOPS, with a focus on enabling private sector entities to develop, finance, own, and operate solar minigrids. Ambassador Jankowski noted that the investment model includes reimbursement schemes, leveraging of additional financing, and regulatory mechanisms to bridge the gap between tariffs and what rural communities can afford. He highlighted the strategic involvement of key institutions such as SLEWRC and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Unit, which will guide implementation and ensure long-term regulatory stability. Beyond powering homes and businesses, the SOGREA initiative is expected to create jobs, stimulate local economies, and empower women and youth, particularly in off-grid and underserved regions. By supporting President Bio's 'Big Five Game Changers', especially in technology and innovation, the initiative reinforces Sierra Leone's commitment to becoming a hub for green investment and renewable energy development in West Africa. As the country moves steadily toward universal electricity access, the launch of SOGREA marks a defining moment in Sierra Leone's journey toward climate resilience and inclusive growth. With strong international partnerships and a forward-looking energy policy, Sierra Leone is lighting the path to a sustainable, empowered future, one solar grid at a time. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.
Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
How big tech and populism are upending 'western values'
The highly tense and polarised situation within the US and EU raises unprecedented challenges, especially amid the ongoing shifting of the global order from a unipolar to a multipolar one. Since the beginning the of the 21st century, the world has been embroiled in a series of crises: the war on terror, the global financial crisis, intensifying climate change, a worldwide pandemic, and a renewed great-power competition. This uneasy landscape has been further complicated by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, of which artificial intelligence is the most compelling and pervasive example, alongside the crisis of globalisation, the rise of China and the start of the second Trump administration. On the latter point, US President Donald Trump is now contesting, if not repudiating, the same world order that Washington created, managed and enforced over the past eight decades. His administration is wielding its new army of big tech companies in an alleged pursuit of a political, economic, cultural and social metamorphosis of humankind. It is not yet clear whether these big tech players will be a tool in the hands of Trump's 'America First' vision, or vice versa. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters As the late former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, remarked seven years ago: 'Trump may be one of those figures in history who appears from time to time to mark the end of an era and to force it to give up its old pretences. It doesn't necessarily mean that he knows this, or that he is considering any great alternative. It could just be an accident.' New words have emerged in the current lexicon to explain this epochal change, such as techno-feudalism, techno-optimism and 'Dark Enlightenment'. A cast of characters from big tech - somewhere between CEOs and gurus - are now influencing politics, economics and the relationship between humans and technology to an unprecedented degree. 'Shadow empire' Some of these figures are in the spotlight daily, such as Tesla's Elon Musk, Open AI's Sam Altman and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, while others seem more comfortable leading from behind the scenes. Some are perceived as the vanguard of 'reactionary acceleration', while others, like Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, who mentored Vice President JD Vance, portrays this period as the 'dusky final weeks of our interregnum' - or, if you prefer, the last days of an ancien regime; a sort of twilight, or worse, an apocalypse. It may be that change of era of which the late Pope Francis warned five years ago in his astute encyclical 'Fratelli Tutti' (All Brothers). Both European and American liberal-democratic establishments believe this change brings a fundamental threat to democracy and western societies, along with the 'values' upon which they are built. Who ultimately has the right to decide who's in and who's out? In normal times, this power would be in the hands of the electors They seem terrified by the possible rise of what has been described brilliantly, but disturbingly, as a 'shadow empire' driven by big tech magnates. At the same time, the rise of far-right movements in the US and Europe is seen as a clear and present danger that requires a 'whatever it takes' approach to keep these parties out of power. These widespread fears could explain some unprecedented developments in recent months in France, Germany and Romania. In France, Marine Le Pen's National Rally made significant gains in last year's legislative elections, despite a massive mobilisation against the party - but now a criminal conviction could derail her future political prospects. In Germany, a similar mobilisation occurred against the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), but the party still managed to double its vote share in February elections. Yet it now risks being banned after Germany's spy agency classified AfD as 'extremist', allowing for increased state monitoring. Populists on the rise The most stunning event, however, was in Romania, where presidential elections were cancelled by the country's constitutional court last December after the first round was won by far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, amid allegations of Russian interference. Among the evidence cited in the declassified Romanian intelligence documents used to justify this decision was a coordinated TikTok campaign - but an investigative report later revealed that the centre-right National Liberal Party had paid for the campaign, which was hijacked to benefit Georgescu, who was subsequently banned from standing in the new election. Paris, Berlin and Bucharest have thus provided compelling examples of what 'whatever it takes' might mean. Amusingly, such behaviour drew criticism from Vance - not exactly a champion in the observance of democratic values - during his recent speech at the Munich Security Conference. The new fascism: Israel is the template for Trump and Europe's war on freedom Read More » 'For years, we've been told that everything we fund and support is in the name of our shared democratic values. Everything from our Ukraine policy to digital censorship is billed as a defence of democracy,' Vance said. 'But when we see European courts cancelling elections and senior officials threatening to cancel others, we ought to ask whether we're holding ourselves to an appropriately high standard.' The bare facts, however, are that some of these populist forces are already in power, from Trump and his Maga supporters in the US; to Giorgia Meloni, now into her third year as Italy's prime minister; to the relaxed Viktor Orban who rules Hungary; to Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has already survived an assassination attempt. Similar political forces appear to be on the rise in other countries. Some polls show a commanding lead for Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage. In Poland, an EU sceptic has just been elected president. Curiously, there is not much pushback over the questionable tactics and techniques being employed across Europe in efforts to keep far-right contenders out of power. Are such moves justifiable to bar from office allegedly undemocratic political figures and movements? Who ultimately has the right to decide who's in and who's out? In normal times, this power would be in the hands of the electors - but these do not seem to be normal times. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
