XV / 1
in Arab digital content, its rates are still way
below what is expected. Statistics shows that
Arab digital content constitutes 3% of the entire
content on the Internet, while Arab region pop-
ulation constitutes 5.1% of world population,
and Arab GDP constitutes 4% of global GDP.
The second session titled “Arab Content in the
Era of Modern Technology Advancements”
sheds light on the reality of Arab content in the
era of modern technology. It further highlights a
number of relevant Arab experiences.
The third session discusses research, develop-
ment and innovation, being contemporary pre-
requisites for the development of Arab digital
content. The year 2015 marks a new phase in
global developmental works, in framework of
the post-2015 development plan and sustain-
able development goals that cover a wide ar-
ray of ambitious goals. Such goals include im-
proved access to information and knowledge
by supporting the development of local digital
content and enhancing cultural and linguistic
diversity online.
Improving the Arab digital content in the Arab
region is not limited to increasing the written
content only but requires serious efforts in re-
search, development and innovation to develop
technologies, applications and tools that fulfill
the linguistic needs of the Arab region. Such
efforts include the processing of natural lan-
guage, content digitalization, provision of elec-
tronic services and preserving cultural heritage.
The fourth session titled “Press Content be-
tween Traditional and Digital Environments:
Opportunities and Challenges” sheds light on
the conflict taking place today between paper-
based and digital press in the developed world.
This conflict has not been settled with the vic-
tory of one type over another. On the contrary,
it has turned into a balance of opportunities.
Paper-based press has taken leaps into what
is known as “beyond news” by analyzing devel-
opmental indicators and such, combined with
economic models, achieving success and prof-
it at the same time. However, this balance has
not found its way to the Arab region yet, due to
lack of conditions, controls and standards that
help achieve this balance.
Hamad Al Mansouri:
Arab content is a test for
organizations concerned
with knowledge economy
development
15
September
2015