Region sees double-digit growth in consumer use of digital channels, but businesses seem reluctant to get involved.
Digital channels are increasingly being used by consumers in the Middle East, but because of business reluctance, digital commerce accounts for less than 1% of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP).
According to Gartner, the Middle East has seen double-digit growth in the use of digital channels and it predicts that this growth will continue. But unless businesses get in on the act, e-commerce will not increase its contribution to the region’s economic growth.
There are important opportunities in digital commerce for countries in the Middle East as they diversify the sources of their wealth away from a heavy dependence on oil, and Gartner called for more active participation by businesses to grow digital commerce in the region.
