Friday, September 17, 2010

Saudi Arabia biggest IT market in GCC region

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia remains the biggest IT market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region with a forecast value of $3.3 billion in 2010, which is expected to grow to $4.6 billion by 2014, according to recent figures from Business Monitor 
International (BMI).

Computer hardware sal
es including PCs, notebooks and accessories are estimated to reach $1.8 billion this year, while the IT services market is expected to hit $971 million in 2010 and sustain a nine per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) until 2014.
Last year, the Information Technology Report showed that the kingdom appears better placed than some other markets in the region to withstand the current global economic headwinds.
Saudi Arabia’s IT market has a number of positive factors to help it avoid stagnation, including a fairly resilient consumer demand, and ongoing infrastructure projects in major verticals such as oil and gas, power, education and telecoms. The report predicted that per-capita IT spending will reach $170 by 2013, with PC penetration rising to nearly 30 per cent.

Iran

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Venezuela

Saudi Arabia