IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

India's apex electronics and software council has offered its expertise to help Gulf countries and companies to face the growing threat to security over the worldwide web.

"India has faced security threats from a long time and we have developed systems and software to successfully face attacks over the internet whether they are targeted at federal or state institutions or the private sector," DK Sareen Executive Director of India's Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), told Emirates 24|7.

Discover how the Gulf region is leading the way in smart city development, revolutionizing urban landscapes through technology integration. Explore the challenges, opportunities, and global trends shaping tomorrow's cities.

As the morning sun casts its golden hues over the Arabian Gulf, a revolution quietly unfolds in the realm of urban planning. The Gulf region, known for its ambitious visions like Oman's Vision 2040 and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, is now at the forefront of integrating technology with urban living. This transformative journey, aimed at enhancing living and working standards through advancements such as the Internet of Things, data analytics, and automation, is not just about cities that function smarter but about creating ecosystems that breathe life into the very fabric of urban existence.

"Although countries in the region have taken strides in implementing e-government, there is still substantial ground to cover. To successfully implement e-government, the nations must take a customer-centric approach, and governments must create comprehensive, sustainable development plans," said Ramez Shehadi, vice-president of IT Strategy Practice at Booz & Company.

The combined IT services market of Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5 per cent over the coming years to a total of USD 1.82 billion by 2018, according to a forecast released by a global advisory services firm.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) expects this growth to be driven by government-led infrastructure projects, eGovernment initiatives, transformations in the transportation, banking and financial services sectors as governments in the region pursue diversification strategies into non-oil sectors.

A global ranking have them lagging far behind their Asian and European competition

Quite disappointingly, the Gulf states have not achieved outstanding results in the 2018 report concerning internet speeds. The best performance among Arab nations was Bahrain’s, but it could place only 90th worldwide, far behind South Asia and Europe, according to rankings compiled by cable.co.uk.

Hackers are developing new means of attack that could put Gulf organisations at risk

Booz Allen Hamilton has warned of seven new areas of cyberattack that could put organisations in the Gulf at risk.

The global consulting and technology firm said that the range and severity of cyberattacks is expanding and digital transformation accelerates and as cyber attackers diversify their methods.

Gulf states ranked first in the Arab region in a UN index that measures the maturity of government electronic and mobile services, according to a UN statement released on Monday.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar secured the top three spots in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services (GEMS) Maturity Index, which is compiled by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), according to a statement.

Economic diversification and various e-government initiatives will drive the IT markets of the region, with finance, communications and manufacturing verticals investing heavily in IT, as they fight to increase their customer base and streamline operations, says global research firm IDC. By 2008, IT spending in the region should top US$5.85 billion.

Education, healthcare, and e-government projects, among others, are set for increases in IT expenditure over the next three years, according to industry sources.

One regional source points to a single Ministry of Health project in Saudi Arabia calling for bids in excess of $130m IT solution requirement.

The digital revolution has become a cornerstone of economic diversification efforts in emerging markets, particularly in countries seeking to reduce their dependence on oil and gas production. Among these nations, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia stand out for their ambitious smart city initiatives, integral to their broader strategies for economic transformation. These initiatives include Dubai Smart City and various projects laid out under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 long-term economic development plan, such as, most prominently, the groundbreaking $500 billion NEOM project. Both countries, through international partnerships with tech giants, are at the forefront of leveraging digital technologies to redefine urban living and enhance governance. However, as these nations embrace the opportunities presented by developing smart cities, challenges such as cybersecurity and infrastructure sustainability must be addressed through strategic policies and trusted partnerships to ensure a secure and sustainable digital transition.

Smart Cities – the interconnected urban destinations where technology underpins improved living and working standards for all – is today’s urban planning paradigm and the Arabian Gulf, where nations are looking to the concept to improve public and private sector efficiency, enable economic benefits and improve citizens’ lives, is in the vanguard of driving adoption forward.

There is an increased emphasis globally to rethink city planning and streamline key functions such as healthcare, transport systems and education. According to figures published by the United Nations, cities will house more than 2.5 billion people by 2050, making inclusive, safe, and sustainable cities a global priority. Throughout the region, national visions have smart cities incorporated into development plans. Oman, with its Vision 2040, is the latest to join the smart development drive already actively pursued in Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

The UAE ranked first in GCC in the online service index (OSI) issued by UN within the e-Government Development Index (EGDI), while Bahrain clinched the second spot. Saudi Arabia came third in the index followed by Kuwait and Oman in 4th and 5th place respectively.

The UAE topped the OSI for Western Asia region and ranked eighth globally in EGDI. The Gulf country has also been ranked 4th in Asia in this indicator.