TECHNOLOGY | DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS
To achieve those goals , the UAE is looking to enhance its digital ecosystem – comprising stakeholders , systems , and an environment that empowers people and communities to use digital technology to access services and engage with each other .
There are many reasons why the UAE is perfectly positioned to deliver on those goals . Aside from the world-leading internet penetration rate , the country also has a young , urban population . Around 88 % of people in the UAE live in cities , and the median age is just 33.5 years . Compare that to the US ( 38 years ) and the UK ( 40 years ). Globally , according to DataReportal , the urban population is 57 % and internet penetration stands at 64 %, while median age is 30.4 years . Interestingly , it is countries from the MEA region that have some of the lowest median ages ( including Nigeria , Egypt , Kenya , South Africa , Ghana , Israel , and Morocco ) which highlights the potential for tapping into this digital-savvy demographic .
Organisations have their own digital ecosystems , of course , but those rely on having a robust , secure and state-of-the-art infrastructure to build upon .
“ Digital ecosystems are important because they foster collaboration and partnerships between organisations , enabling innovation and growth ,” says Faraz Ahmed , Associate , Research at JLL MENA . businesschief . ae 99