The Upside of Digital for the Middle East and North Africa

The socioeconomic benefits would be immense if countries across the Middle East and North Africa fully digitized their economies. Yet despite widespread usage of social media, the uptake of digital technologies such as mobile money and digital payments has been low in many countries across the region. How can we explain this digital paradox?

A new report, “The Upside of Digital for the Middle East and North Africa: How Digital Technology Adoption Can Accelerate Growth and Create Jobs,” seeks to understand this paradox. It provides estimates of the economic gains from digitalization and offers policy recommendations on how the region could approach universal coverage. Join this report launch event and hear from the report authors, followed by a lively discussion with policymakers, academics and the private sector.