TechLahore

DAWN‘s business section carries an interesting story today detailing the growth of the IT market in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and the UAE principally account for both the overall size and the rapid growth. Given Pakistan’s very close relations with both countries, and the easy accessibility of both markets, this bodes well for export oriented SW and IT companies looking to the Middle East. Based on personal experience, though, the Gulf market is more about services and less about product. They tend to play it extremely safe with top-tier brands, not just for IT, but for pretty much anything! However, there is certainly a big services play to be made here.

DAWN says:

According to the official the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) IT market was set to grow from $6.9 billion in 2003 to $13.4 billion in 2008.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are alone accounted for 77 per cent of the Gulf region’s current annual IT related spending of $4.94 billion, which is projected to increase to $5 billion this year, the official said.

The growth should really come as no surprise to frequent visitors to the GITEX show in Dubai, which has been growing rapidly year over year. Even with its ever increasing population of large hotels, Dubai just can’t seem to provide enough hotel rooms when it comes time for this convention!

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