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Dubai Can Lead ME in Digital Revolution

DUBAI - Dubai can lead the Middle East in technological innovation, but it must first invest more to build its high-tech infrastructure, an industry 
specialist said.

The region is just beginning its “digital revolution” and lags behind the US and the UK, but it should catch up fast, said Robin Kent, co-founder of New York-based consulting firm 
Rebel Digital.

“If you see the population, then Saudi Arabia and Egypt are big countries, but Dubai has a lot of potential because of its focus on technology investment,” Kent told the Khaleej Times. 
“The Emirate has both vision and a young population.”

Broadband penetration, which is relatively low here and elsewhere in the Middle East, would improve if governments invested more in technological systems and hardware.

Once faster services are available, greater opportunities will arise, he said.

“If you ignore digital world, your business will suffer.” Kent’s company, established in April 2007, advises digital music platforms and sells advertising for them. 
 In a speech at the CONNECT-World CEO Forum, he said that the music industry has failed to understand what is happening in the digital world.

The global music business generated sales of around $40 billion in 2001, but sales declined last year to $27 billion and are likely to fall further, he said. However, the music industry has failed to reduce the prices for its CDs and other products at retail stores products to stay competitive music downloaded for free from the Internet. Although traditional advertising is suffering from the financial crisis, digital advertisements are growing.

abdulbasit@khaleejtiems.com