Technology & IT | Tuesday 31 March, 2015 2:20 pm |

Ballooning demand and a higher purchasing power in UAE mobile segment makes Dubai the undisputed launching pad for new brands seeking to break into the lucrative business

As players in the smartphone and smart gadget segment continue their quest to control UAE’s technology-hungry population, smart city map and business listings solution provider, 2GIS, says this heightened activity is not only good for the consumer but also key to its growth outlook in the region.
Just a few months into setting up shop in Dubai, the Russian based Smart City app developer is optimistic that UAE’s vibrant and competitive mobile device market will be the driving force for app developers in the region.
2GIS UAE says that the rapidly changing mobile technology eco system coupled by falling prices and a wide range of choice for the consumer continues to provide impressive business prospects for the company.
Smartphone Penetration
According to research conducted by Google, UAE is ranked no.1 in global smartphone penetration with 73.8% of mobile consumers carrying smartphones.
Karan Patel, 2GIS UAE Marketing Manager, says, “UAE’s firm position as having the highest market penetration is a strong indicator of a robust technology and app market. As a key player in this industry, this growth ensures that we continue to develop and improve our product to match the evolving trends and needs of the consumer – especially in the region”.
Retail Sector Performance
Driven primarily by a ballooning demand and a higher purchasing power, the mobile segment in UAE and Dubai in particular, is now considered a launching pad for new brands – positioning Dubai as the go-to region for brands that are seeking to make an entry into the tech market globally.
“The UAE is now the most attractive destination for shoppers around the world and tech firms and resellers are now taking full advantage of activities such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises to make their way into households. These events continue to fuel growth of UAE’s retail sector, which has been growing at an impressive rate of seven per cent year-on-year,” said Karan Patel.
Dubai Market Expansion
2GIS says that the UAE’s unprecedented real estate sector is one of the key areas the company is looking towards to boost its regional growth. As Dubai and other emirates continue to develop its infrastructure, residents and tourists will need to be kept up to date with accurate and detailed information through a reliable Smart City map application.
Mobile E-commerce
Online shoppers in the UAE, according to a report by payment solutions provider PayPal and Ipsos, prefer making their purchases via an app or over an internet browser. Among those polled, almost 59 per cent said that they had shopped via a smartphone app in the last 12 months compared 52 per cent who used a browser.
“Product research, location search and price comparison were the top commerce related activities among UAE online shoppers. In order to remain reliable, efficient and competitive, 2GIS is investing in research and development in order to offer e-commerce assistance to its users,” noted Karan Patel.
2GIS currently has over 30 million users worldwide, of which 300,000 are in the UAE. The app covers over 270 cities in eight countries. The 2GIS application is free to download and requires internet connection only once a month to update.
The app, which can also function fully without web connectivity, is available on the Apple App Store, Android Play Store as well as BlackBerry World. Currently the 2GIS smart city map of Dubai shows over 156,000 buildings and structures and contains information of about 90,000 organizations in the city.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact: Patrick Karanjah - [email protected] or Melwyn Abraham - [email protected] at Matrix PR on (971-4) 343 0888
About 2GIS:
2GIS UAE is a map service comprising detailed business listings and public transport guide, as well as a 3D map of the city. A reliable source constantly updated with the latest of information; it also details phone number and addresses, looks up for directions in unfamiliar neighborhoods, finds out your banks business hours and even locates good cafes and shopping destinations for your retail fancy.
It is currently present in eight countries (UAE, Czech Republic, Chile, Russia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Cyprus & Ukraine) covering 250 cities with 27 million worldwide users. 2GIS UAE is available on three platforms (Online, Mobile and PC) and is free to download on mobiles across all platforms. Providing an additional feature of functioning offline too; 2GIS UAE covers 95% of the city’s infrastructural information, including 99% of all commercial and residential complexes and roads of the city. With 90% accuracy, 2GIS UAE is sprinting ahead to be registered as one of the most popular and often used applications for navigation and more.
For more information visit www.2gis.ae