The document discusses the growing digital transformation and emerging technologies in the Middle East region. It notes that the Middle East has experienced significant increases in social media users, mobile usage, and internet users since 2016. It highlights several emerging technologies being developed and implemented in countries like the UAE, including autonomous flying taxis, hyperloop transportation, AI technologies in airports, blockchain-based government services, robotic police officers, 3D printed houses, and more. It also discusses factors driving digital growth and the rise of startups in the region, as well as increased interest from international tech companies looking to capitalize on opportunities there.
2. EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE US & ASIA….
+30 million social media users since 2016.
The Middle East loves social
media, especially videos. The
region has second highest online
video viewership in the world
after the US.
+25 million mobile usage since 2016.
Around 91% of the UAE population
have a smartphone. In
Saudi Arabia this number is 86%.
+19 million internet users since 2016.
In the MENA region
(Middle East/North Africa),
millennials are actively online for
4 to 6 hours.
WHEN THE Middle East IS AN EMERGING DIGITAL POWERHOUSE…
4. AUTONOMOUS FLYING TAXIS
The UAE is making huge strides in revolutionizing
transport in various areas. One such plan is to
introduce the world’s first taxi drones. With the
first public trial already successfully under its belt,
Dubai, working with German firm Volocopter,
hopes that people will be able to hail a flying cab
from a nearby Voloport within the next five years
TRANSPORT
5. HYPERLOOP ONE
The Middle East want become the first region to launch Elon
Musk’s revolutionary Hyperloop One. Moving passengers
against the speed of air travel against a fraction of the cost. A
move that could cut travel times between Abu Dhabi and
Dubai down to 12 minutes.
TRANSPORT
6. AI TECHNOLOGY IN AIRPORTS
Dubai is looking to use artificial intelligence solutions to
enhance the customer experience at their airports. AI may
soon help airline passengers pick their on-board meals,
schedule rental cars or guide passengers through last-minute
duty-free shopping. On top of that, Dubai wants to integrate
self-driving electric vehicles to help the airport crew.
TRAVELLING
7. THE FIRST CITY ON BLOCKCHAIN
The Emirates launched a serie of pilot projects to assess the
extent to which blockchain can be leveraged to transform the
delivery of government services. One of the first initiatives is
the introduction of Dubai’s own cryptocurrency: emCash.
ECONOMY
8. ROBOT POLICE ON THE STREETS
This year the UAE piloted a robotic policeman capable of
issuing fines, feeding video back to base and identifying
people through facial recognition; a first move in a strategy that
will see 25% of all positions taken up by robots by 2030
SECURITY
9. 3D PRINTED HOUSES
In 2017 Dubai 3D printed a 2,700 square foot building which
only took 17 days and 18 people to build, half as many people
as a conventional building of the same proportions would
require.
LIVING
10. BOOMING GROWTH OF AI
Saudi Arabia has become the first country to give a robot
citizenship. The move is an attempt to promote Saudi Arabia
as a place to develop artificial intelligence-, and presumably,
allow it to become a full citizen.
CITIZEN
SAUDI ARABIA GRANTS CITIZENSHIP
TO A ROBOT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER
11. THE FIRST MINISTER FOR AI
In 2017 the UAE appointed Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama as the
country’s first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. AI
is part of the 2070 UAE centennial strategy.
GOVERMENTAL
12. DIGITAL EDUCATION INITIATIVES
UAE launched on education platform to educate 1 million
Arabs in computer coding. In it’s first week the platform
already attracted 500.000 coding enthusiasts.
EDUCATION
The Middle East is well known
for a wide arrange of MOOC
platforms (Massive Open
Online Courses).
13. DIGITAL HUB NEOM
Saudi Arabia, Jordan & Egypt want to build a
future digital hub 33 times bigger than New York.
NEOM will focus on nine specialized investment
sectors and living conditions that will drive the
future of human civilization, energy and water,
mobility, biotech, food, technological and digital
sciences, advanced manufacturing, media, and
entertainment with livability as its foundation.
INFRASTRUCTURE
15. CULTURE CAPITAL
CIVICS
QATAR
UAEOMAN
BAHRAIN
EGYPT
SAUDIA ARABIA
KUWAIT
The Middle East has one of the best legal frame
works to start new business. Legal entry
barriers are extremely low.
For example: in Dubai you have free zones
catering various business clusters where foreign
investors can enjoy 100% ownership and pay
zero taxes.
The Middle East has one of the most digital savvy
cultures in the world. The UAE, Qatar and
Bahrain have a 100% smartphone penetration
and more than 70% social media adaption,
these numbers are higher than the US.
The Middle East wants to adopt a leading
digital economy by heavily investing into
attractive regions. It is predicted that the
regions will invest +7 billion dollars into
innovative technologies (Ai, IoT etc…) by the
end of 2030.
THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE OF
THE MENA REGION
16. THESE ADVANTAGEOUS FACTORS ARE CAUSING THE RISE OF MANY START-UPS WITHIN THE REGION
Fletchr is an International expres, mail delivery and logistic service company,
operating an app-based on-demand delivery service. The company is based
in Dubai and got a funding of 52 million dollars.
Fetchr is a start-up company from Dubai specialized in
international express, mail delivery and logistics services.
Everything is app-based and on-demand. The company
raised a total funding of 52 million dollars.
FETCHR.
17. Paytabs is an innovative new economy centric payment
solution built to provide buyers and sellers an advance
technology to pay and get paid. The company is oriented in
Saudi Arabia and valued at 20 million dollars.
THESE ADVANTAGEOUS FACTORS ARE CAUSING THE RISE OF MANY START-UPS WITHIN THE REGION
PAYTABS
18. THESE ADVANTAGEOUS FACTORS ARE CAUSING THE RISE OF MANY START-UPS WITHIN THE REGION
Seez R is a start-up company from Saudi Arabia. They offer
an app that allows people to scan any car they see and
immediately tell them the market price and value. The Tech
company raised 1.7 million in funding last year.
SEEZ R
19. THESE ADVANTAGEOUS FACTORS ARE CAUSING THE RISE OF MANY START-UPS WITHIN THE REGION
Anghami is the first legal music streaming platform in the
Middle East. The platform provides unlimited Arabic and
International music. Their streaming service has already more
than 33 million users.
Anghami
THE SPOTIFY OF THE Middle East
20. OVER THIS PAST YEAR MORE THAN
3 BILLIONS DOLLARS HAS BEEN RAISED
FROM THE MIDDLE EAST FOR TECHNOLOGY
INVESTMENTS IN VARIOUS REGIONS.
THIS WAS A MAJOR WAKE-UP CALL FOR
FOREIGN INVESTORS TO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE
START-UP POSSIBILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST…
21. INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS STARTED TO SHOW INTEREST IN THE BOOMING GROWTH OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Amazon is entering the Middle East retail market by buying
the biggest E-commerce platform, Souq. Amazon wants to
target the Middle Eastern market with the help of Souq.
AMAZON - SOUQ DEAL
22. CAREEM, UBER’S BIG RIVAL
Careem is a transportion network company based in Dubai,
with operations in 53 cities in the Middle East and Africa. The
company is one of the biggest Uber rival’s in the region. At
the end of 2017 the company was valued at 1 billion dollars.
Attracting investors like Daimler AG.
INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS STARTED TO SHOW INTEREST IN THE BOOMING GROWTH OF THE MIDDLE EAST
24. The Middle East has only
scratched the surface of
their digital potential. It is
estimated that the region
only has reached 8% of it’s
full potential. Leaders in the
Middle East want to fully
harness the power of
digital by 2030.
THE MIDDLE EAST IS JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE…
Only at 8% OF IT’S
FULL DIGITAL
POTENTIAL
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CONSULT
COACH CONNECT
29. Dado Van Peteghem
Founding Partner, Co-CEO
dado.vanpeteghem@duvalunion.com
REACH OUT FOR MORE INFORMATION…
Nick Vinckier
Chief Strategy MENA region
nick.vinckier@duvalunion.com
PS: WE JUST OPENED AN OFFICE IN DUBAI