Prospects for digital transformation in Arab countries

Abstract

The article analyzes the state and prospects for digital transformation of the Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa with a view to summarizing the available statistical and empirical data relating to the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) by both private users and governments, state and business structures of the region in question. The article provides specific examples of the successful use of high technologies in various sectors of the economy and life of the Arab countries. Besides, the reasons for the lagging of the Middle East and North Africa in terms of contribution of digitalization to GDP, to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to human capital, are being investigated. In particular, there is a fairly low level of investment in the Arab countries in venture capital, which is a driver of innovation. Special attention is given to the need for digitalization of the learning processes in the region in question (from elementary school to higher education), including its reorientation towards the acquisition of new knowledge and skills, so that the qualifications of future high-tech specialists meet the market requirements.