Bahrain’s technology driven culture provides great potential for growth in the untapped digital content and e-commerce industry, with access to a talented, young and bi-lingual workforce.
With its strategic location, a highly connected population, and an educated & bilingual workforce, Bahrain has a unique advantage to tap into the MENA region’s fast growing digital media market.
The region is also witnessing gaming interest in virtual reality technologies.
Bahrain also offers a full operations & fulfilment solution to e-commerce companies looking to expand either into or within the region.
$4bn
MENA's digital media market is forecasted to triple in size to $4 billion by 2022.
(Forbes)
>60%
Of MENA consumers are willing to pay to consume digital content.
(Forbes)
$8.3bn
In 2017, the MENA e-commerce market reached $8.3 billion. With an average annual growth rate of 25%, e-commerce in the region has been growing slightly ahead of the global average.
(Bain)
Globally for percentage of internet users.
(WEF 2018)
Mobile cell subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.
(Hootsuite)
Of the GCC population are gamers.
(NewZoo Global Market Report)
Internet penetration, the highest in the world (WEF 2018).
Digital community
The region is witnessing a growing interest in virtual reality technologies and the creative talent behind it. A strong gaming community that allows Bahrain to host a yearlong calendar of gaming events and activities where companies showcase their games. With more than 15,000 attendees, Bahrain is proving to be a great location for creatives.
• IGN convention
• Bahrain gaming Experience
• Animania Bahrain
Human capital
With a dialect easily understood across the region and a young & bilingual ICT workforce, Bahrain has a compelling opportunity to tap into the localized gaming market reaching 400mn+ Arabic speakers in the MENA region.
Bahrain offers a creative environment for companies within the digital content field with a newly launched Arts Incubator to further foster this sector.
E-commerce market
Rapid economic growth, industrialization, and domestic consumption are fueling the Middle East’s growth of e-commerce. The MENA region is currently home to 4 million online shoppers.
Bahrain is the ideal hub to access key regional e-commerce markets including Saudi and Kuwait. The MENA eCommerce sector is projected to grow from USD 20bn in 2017 to USD 200bn in 2020.
