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The area is able to separate itself from Western influence and establish itself as an independent technical force due to the increasing geopolitical and technological aspirations of Middle Eastern nations.
The IT boom in the Middle East is a recent phenomenon. Indeed, the region’s long history of trade with the West has had a significant impact on its economy and technology landscape. But things have changed in the last 20 years.
The area is able to separate itself from this Western influence and establish itself as an independent technology force due to the increasing geopolitical and technical aspirations of Middle Eastern nations.
So, how exactly does this new Middle Eastern technology environment look, and where is it headed?
A region in the Middle East that has mastered the art of cyberwarfare
No region has ever been more cognizant of the wealth of talent that resides inside its borders than this one. A new Middle East has been shaped by the brainpower and perseverance of entrepreneurs, engineers, and other brilliant individuals.
The region’s personnel and intellectual resources have been crucial in achieving this, especially considering the continuous cyber-attacks. Because of the unique geopolitical problems faced by the Middle East, this kind of cyber warfare has become widespread there.
In order to protect themselves and accomplish geopolitical goals without resorting to conventional military means, countries have had to use all their resources. As a result, the task is quite daunting.
Even though we can’t see it, this cyberwar is relentlessly cruel. However, it has allowed the region’s governments to lead the technical pack, acquire a competitive edge, and spark creative IT startups. The stakes are high!
Two Middle Eastern countries at the forefront of technological innovation are Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Numerous initiatives and financing programs have also impacted the technical environment of the Middle East. As regional leaders in technology, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been ramping up efforts to establish a robust ecosystem of innovation in their respective nations for quite some time. In only half a century, these nations have gone from producing camels to making some of the world’s most cutting-edge, inventive technology.
These two countries have accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time, developing infrastructures that allow them to independently utilize oil, industrialize, and fully digitize their country. The pieces have come together to form new countries that focus on startups. For instance, in 2016, Saudi Arabia unveiled its vision 2030 plan, which sought to lessen the country’s reliance on oil while simultaneously diversifying its economy.
The creation of research and development centers and special economic zones are only two examples of the many technologically-related initiatives included in this strategy. An example of such an endeavor is NEOM, a SEZ and futuristic city in northwest Saudi Arabia that aims to fully use state-of-the-art technology in automation, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. The UAE will not be forgotten either.
The goal of the Dubai 10X strategy is to make the city an innovation powerhouse. Another example is Smart Dubai, which aims to transform Dubai into a sustainable, connected, and smart metropolis.
Broadening the Scope of Middle Eastern Technology beyond Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
When it comes to influencing the region’s technology environment, Saudi Arabia and the UAE aren’t the only ones. Other pioneers in digital infrastructure, 5G, and cloud investments include Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
The Gulf states are now unquestionably in the forefront of digital change on a global scale. But the digital dynamics of the Gulf states and the Levantine nations like Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon are quite different from one another.
In order to maintain our regional and worldwide competitiveness, we must address these disadvantages caused by this technology gap. Consequently, a plethora of entrepreneurial endeavors are cropping up to foster talent and mold the IT scene, all in spite of the economic downturn.
University student entrepreneurs in Beirut may get help at BADEEL, a new pre-incubator run by the Centre d’Employabilité Francophone (CEF) in the capital.
So, as we have seen, there are several avenues by which technical change has occurred. The result is the emergence of cutting-edge technology sectors in which the Gulf states have taken the lead. Healthcare is one area that has a lot of promise.
The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has hastened the Middle East’s transition to digital healthcare systems. A very encouraging pattern has shown itself, with the market projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2021 to 2030. Forecasts indicate that the digital healthcare business will be worth $11 billion by 2025.
In response to this sea change, a plethora of new digital companies have sprung up, providing services like mental health apps and telemedicine platforms. A plethora of political and technical shifts have also contributed to the growth of related businesses, including deeptech, robots, and synthetic biology.
