The Digital Digest is Rassed's quarterly round up of Internet and technology developments in the Middle East. Hot stories in this issue: Instagram is more popular than Facebook in one Arab country, but which one? Saudi Arabia still has the largest Twitter population. UAE is named fiber capital of the world. One Middle East country has a smartphone penetration level of only 6%, read to find out which one. Can Jawabkom be the new Arab Quora? More #Selfies taken in Doha than any other Middle East city. The region is among the heaviest VoIP users globally. ... and many more.

1. Digital Digest
Q2, July 2014

2. Highlights
MENA Youth
increasingly
trust social
channels
for news
UAE named
fiber capital of
the world
Egypt has the
smallest
smartphone
penetration in
MENA
Second-
screen use
while
watching TV
is high
Jawabkom,
the Arab
Quora
11 months is
the average
age children
start using
smartphones
Saudi Arabia
still has the
largest Twitter
population
MENA among
heaviest VoIP
users globally
More selfies
taken in Doha
than any
other MENA
country
Instagram is the
most popular
social network
among Qataris

3. Social Media

4. …and least used by Egyptians and Tunisians.
Northwestern University in Qatar and Doha Film Institute: http://bit.ly/1l3RNl4
Instagram is the most popular
social media service among Qataris

5. Facebook to expand
digital ads in the region
The network has started to share its digital ad platform
‘Facebook Audience Network’ (FAN) and is looking to
increase involvement from brands in time for Ramadan.
We noted previously how social media usage increases
during the Holy Month. Will we see this in 2014 too?
The National: http://bit.ly/1ipWAAG
In Saudi Arabia
68%
Interaction with brands on Facebook during Ramadan
In UAE
50%
In Egypt
49%

6. The 6th Arab Social Media Report: http://bit.ly/1lr6QKL
Saudi Arabia still has MENA‟s
largest Twitter population
Saudi Arabia alone accounts for 40% of the
Middle East Twitter population.

7. Facebook is most preferred “social
log-in” network in the region
When asked to register/log-in to a new website
using an existing social media account, people in
the region prefer to do so via Facebook.
The full infographic available on Tfour.me: http://bit.ly/1hDc9H5

8. Trust in social media as a news
source growing fast for MENA Youth
Arab Youth Study: http://bit.ly/1lgPQH6
TV remains the most trusted source of news, but social
media is quickly catching up. Will it overtake TV in 2015?

9. Technology

10. UAE leads globally in
fiber to the home penetration
ZDNet: http://zd.net/1kSU4Aj
Via: Fiber to the Home Council Middle East & North Africa
Fiber to the
home
Fiber to the
building

11. Ipsos finds smartphone take-up
in MENA is lowest in Egypt
Ipsos: http://slidesha.re/1rm55it

12. GCC more
“network ready” than North Africa
The World Economic Forum’s Network Readiness Index
shows a growing gap between GCC and NA countries.
World Economic Forum: http://bit.ly/1pqQLrL
GCC Others

13. Mobile and PC are
nearly universal in Qatar
Qatar leads in household availability of laptops
and tablets; reports Ericsson ConsumerLab
Qatar’s ICT landscape report: http://bit.ly/1kWV0Jh

14. 43% “second screen”
when watching TV…
… said respondents in Egypt, KSA and UAE
in a Facebook commissioned survey.
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1hlHm1v
36%
use
their
phone
13%
use laptops 5%
use tablets

15. Digital Content

16. This portal, believed to be the first in the region, features
experts from a variety of fields who answer users questions.
Jawabkom: The Arab „Quora‟
Ameinfo: http://bit.ly/1oPArMR

17. Airline tickets are the
most purchased online products
The Arab World Online: http://bit.ly/1jTwli3

18. While Makati, Philippines has been crowned
the selfi-taking capital of the world
Doha is the biggest
selfie-taking city in the Middle East
Time: http://ti.me/1nD0gzX

19. The residents of the
region are also among
the highest users of
VoIP globally according
to a new report
published by ictQATAR.
More satellite TVs in MENA
than any other region
Rassed: http://bit.ly/1oIcIQv

20. Although Internet
and mobile ads
will increase
dramatically by
2018, traditional
TV advertising is
predicted to still
dominate.
PWC: Digital ads will increase, but
TV ads will remain most prominent
Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1pAnpEk

21. Designed to look
like Pinterest, this
is believed to be
the first Arab
website that allows
users to rate the
products they
purchased online.
Ishtarate, Arab product
rating website / social network
Tfour.me: http://bit.ly/1ptBqmp

22. Global Stories

23. Majority of global smartphone
growth will be in developing world
In the coming years, smartphones will be the
leading technologies sold around the globe.
Deloitte: http://bit.ly/1oWpTf4

24. Second-screen while
watching the World Cup is high
GlobalWebIndex: http://bit.ly/Sv9Z0g
While most devoted fans say they are posting
opinions about the game live on social media.
Check out this issue of the Top 10s for World Cup tech innovations

25. Amazon dominates online retail
Mashable: http://on.mash.to/1kQGltM

26. 11-months is the average age
children start using smartphones
Daily Mail: http://dailym.ai/1l20aSU
The Cohen Children's Medical
Centre found that playing non-
educational games on touch-screen
devices hinders verbal development.

27. Disclaimer: All content in these slides is in the public domain and referenced so that you can read the original sources.
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