The Upside of Digital for the Middle East and North Africa - How Digital Technology Adoption Can Accelerate Growth and Create Jobs

Jul 19, 2026

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The report analyzes how adopting digital technologies can drive economic acceleration and job creation across the Middle East and North Africa. It connects digitalization to productivity gains and mechanisms that reduce market frictions, including information asymmetries in ride-hailing, mobility constraints affecting transport, and barriers tied to geography and language in tourism. It also provides an analytical framework to explain the “upside” of the digital economy, supported by references and structured chapters.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages99

Reading Time4 h 9 min

Contents

Executive Summary

Abbreviations

1 Introduction

2 The Digital Paradox in the Middle East and North Africa and the Upside of Digital Technologies

3 Framework for Understanding the Upside of the Digital Economy

4 How Digital Technologies Help to Overcome Market Frictions

Overcoming Frictions due to Information Asymmetries on Ride-Hailing Platforms

Overcoming Transport Frictions: IT Sector and Mobility Barriers in West Bank

Tourism Demand: Overcoming Frictions Associated with Geography and Language Barriers

Public Disc losure Authorized The Upside of Digital for the Middle East and North Africa Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disc losure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized How Digital Technology Adoption Can Accelerate Growth and Create Jobs Ana Paula Cusolito, Clément Gévaudan, Daniel Lederman, and Christina A. Wood The Upside of Digital for the Middle East and North Africa How Digital Technology Adoption Can Accelerate Growth and Create Jobs Ana Paula Cusolito, Clément Gévaudan, Daniel Lederman, and Christina A. Wood © 2021 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; [Internet: www.worldbank.org](Internet: www.worldbank.org) Some rights reserved 1 2 3 4 24 23 22 21 This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the data included in this work and does not assume responsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the information, or liability with respect to the use of or failure to use the information, methods, processes, or conclusions set forth. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be construed or considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and Permissions This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO) [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo. Under](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo. Under) the Creative Commons Attribution license, you are free to copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt this work, including for commercial purposes, under the following conditions: Attribution—Please cite the work as follows: Cusolito, Ana Paula, Clément Gévaudan, Daniel Lederman, and Christina A. Wood. 2021. The Upside of Digital for the Middle East and North Africa: How Digital Technology Adoption Can Accelerate Growth and Create Jobs. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi:10 . 1596/978-1-4648-1663-5. License: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO Translations—If you create a translation of this work, please add the following disclaimer along with the attribution: This translation was not created by The World Bank and should not be considered an official World Bank translation. The World Bank shall not be liable for any content or error in this translation. Adaptations—If you create an adaptation of this work, please add the following disclaimer along with the attribution: This is an adaptation of an original work by The World Bank. Views and opinions expressed in the adaptation are the sole responsibility of the author or authors of the adaptation and are not endorsed by The World Bank. Third-party content—The World Bank does not necessarily own each component of the content contained within the work. The World Bank therefore does not warrant that the use of any third-partyowned individual component or part contained in the work will not infringe on the rights of those third parties. The risk of claims resulting from such infringement rests solely with you. If you wish to re-use a component of the work, it is your responsibility to determine whether permission is needed for that re-use and to obtain permission from the copyright owner. Examples of components can include, but are not limited to, tables, figures, or images. All queries on rights and licenses should be addressed to World Bank

FAQs

What is the core focus of the report?

The report examines how digital technology adoption can accelerate growth and create jobs in the Middle East and North Africa.

How does the report explain the “upside” of the digital economy?

It uses a framework for understanding the upside of the digital economy and relates digitalization to measurable economic mechanisms.

Which market frictions does the report discuss and how can digital technologies help?

It addresses information asymmetries on ride-hailing platforms, mobility barriers in transport, and geography and language barriers affecting tourism demand.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Logic