UAE leaps forward towards a hyper-connected future

Ritika Sharma / Emirates Business

With smartphone penetrations mounting at startling pace and rapid proliferation of technological devices combined with increasing spendable income of residents, the UAE is
vigorously embracing technological
creations and moving towards a hyper-connected future.
Testimony to the aforesaid statement is the fact that GfK Connected Consumer Index, which studied data of nearly 78 countries, has recently ranked UAE as the third-most connected country in the world only after Hong Kong and North America region.
“It is incredible how in just a few years’ time, UAE has emerged as a super-tech market. The report results are no surprise and considering the way UAE is growing technologically, no wonder we might become the number one in this list sooner that you anticipate,” Adivta Pete, a software engineer and an independent internet solutions provider, based in Dubai, told Emirates Business.
The report also showed that consumers in the UAE have been quickly closing the gap, leap-frogging from eighth to third place in just a year. Experts believe it can be an effect of approaching Expo 2020, which is expected to bring a huge inflow of tourists before and during the event, thereby increasing the need of more seamless connectivity in the country.
Eldynero Santos, General Manager for the Middle East region at Comba, a global wireless solutions provider, said, “Today’s market is driven by the user’s need to have an anywhere-anytime connection or, rather, an always-on connection. Dubai alone is set to draw over 25 million visitors during the Expo’s six-month run in addition to the projected annual international visitor traffic of 20 million by 2020 – and it’s clear that we have to gear up for that level of connectivity soon.”
The index findings mean UAE is among the technically savviest countries and the people here are most likely to make smart devices a part of their daily lives. Devices that are in vogue in this region included smartphones, tablets, mobile PC, desktop PC, wearables, smart TV, TV set-top box, video game console, e-reader, e-connected cars and smart homes.
Interestingly, the smartphone and tablet penetration in the region is estimated to reach 600 million devices by 2018 and UAE unquestionably will lead the trend.
“It is not just about smartphones, there is a lot happening in field of automation in almost all the industries. There is not a single sector that can remain untouched to the increasing technological intervention. UAE has always shown promising signs and taking into consideration the fact that economy is much mature than many other nations, it further strengthens UAE’s position as leader when it comes to connectivity,” pointed out Pete.