Event A Platform For DIC Business Partners to Explore Saudi Arabian ICT Market

Dubai Internet City (DIC) announced today that it will participate in the forthcoming GITEX Saudi Arabia 2006 exhibition being held at the Riyadh International Exhibition Centre, from April 23-27.

Participating with DIC in its Community Zone at GITEX will be a mix of dynamic and innovative companies that represent a cross section of the DIC community. The companies include ComGuard, Network Appliance, Sobha Information Technology, Madar Research, IT People, TechXact Middle East - represent the diversity, vibrancy and international spirit of the DIC. Also joining DIC at its stand is HH Sheikh Mohammed IT Education Project (ITEP), the organisation that has the mission of enhancing IT literacy in the region.

Together with the companies in the Community Zone, Dubai Internet City is seeking to strengthen its ties with the ICT industry in Saudi Arabia, which is the largest in the Middle East Jamal Abdul Salam, Executive Director of Dubai Internet City said: "We are keen to develop stronger ties with the Saudi ICT market and help our business partners develop their business in this high-growth market. Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's most powerful economy remains the region's number one market for computers and IT applications."

Saudi Arabia accounts for 40 per cent of total sales in the region's IT market worth some US$ 4.6 billion. Sales of PC's and notebooks continue to grow, while internet use and e-commerce are set to increase dramatically over the next few years, driving demand for all related hardware and software, applications. The Saudi market offers great opportunities for suppliers of the latest in office technology, intranet services, mobile and wireless networking systems.

'Saudi Arabia's huge size and tremendous potential make it an extremely exciting market. The Community Zone at GITEX Saudi will be a strategic platform for our Business Partners to strengthen their brands and build further relationships in the Saudi market," he added.

Saudi Arabia's ICT sector has been witnessing phenomenal growth over the last few years drawing the keen interest of ICT businesses all over the world. According to estimates, e-commerce is set to explode in the region, especially in Saudi Arabia.

Annual sales of computers and related software in the Saudi Kingdom are worth up to 1 billion dollars a year and sales are growing steadily by 2 to 3 per cent a year.