Publication

This paper analyzes digitization efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, focusing on the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Key insights include 1) the growth of the region’s digital economy could become key in addressing its youth unemployment crisis; 2) governments in the region have taken steps to create an environment in which technology start-ups can thrive; 3) nevertheless, these countries still need to overcome challenges such as flaws in education systems, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and insufficient funding for new businesses; and 4) while digitization creates new opportunities for employment and political participation, it also could enable digital authoritarianism in the region.