Arabic smart applications…
Where?
Editorial Team
With
the increasing prevalence of smart phones in the Arab world, particu-
larly in the UAE, which has ranked first in the world with 74 per cent
of the total number of mobile devices used in the UAE, there is now a dire need to
develop Arabic apps that can compete with the world’s famous apps.
Despite the actual presence of a large number of these apps, however, none of
them has been able to occupy a leading position among the most downloaded apps
on any of the well-known stores such as “Google Play” and the Apple Store.
We have multiple names but one single viewpoint to the effect that Arabic apps
have faced formidable challenges that have distanced them from fame. In an ex-
ploratory survey with a number of technology experts in the Arab world, the Smart
Government tried to solve the puzzle of this decline. The experts gave a number
of reasons that prevented the Arabic apps from being in the lead. For example, the
category targeted by the apps was limited to Arabic speakers only and the apps
were not supported by multiple languages. Other reasons included the fact that
some of these apps were not professional in terms of both design and idea, as most
of them were merely reproduced versions of global apps.
In its attempt to practically support this issue, the Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority launched an initiative several months ago to create a smart government
innovation center, which seeks to provide a nurturing environment for creative ideas
related to apps - particularly those received from university students –and support
it as required.
At the same time, our experts offered fast solutions for narrowing the gap between
Arabic applications and their western counterparts, stressing the importance of
drafting good marketing plans for familiarizing users with the Arabic apps as well
as the need to continually update them and other points that we will bring to your
attention in two consecutive parts.
Based on the Smart Government’s belief in the importance of digital media industry
among the various mass media, the magazine introduced a new section titled “so-
cial networking”, which depicts highlights of what government entities launched via
their accounts on the various networking sites.
In its bid to highlight the level of achievement reached by the various federal and lo-
cal entities as regards electronic and smart transformation, the Smart Government
issued a report containing the number of smart and electronic services provided by
the Ministry of Public Works, which was classified by the TRA under the category of
“distinguished entities” after it had scored full mark in terms of commitment to apply-
ing e-transformation criteria.
As far as QR section is concerned, we review a number of videos launched by local
and federal entities on YouTube to highlight their services. These include the video
launched by Barjeel Art Foundation titled “Sharjah Time-lapse 2014”, in which it
displayed a number of new and old sites in Sharjah City and offered the viewers a
variety of clips from the Al Majaz Waterfront, the historical Central Market, the over-
crowded Rolla Street and other areas in the city.
In this issue we also publish a variety of local and global reports and news on tech-
nology and information and communication technology in addition to smart phone
and tablet software and apps and the latest smart government apps.
