Dubai: The number of internet users in the Arab world has increased by more than nine million in the past year reaching 26.3 million by end 2005, according to figures released yesterday by Madar Research.

Growth rate of internet use has substantially risen over 2004 levels, to average around 55 per cent, with few countries where internet penetration is at its lowest witnessing three-digit growth.

This led to a pan-Arab penetration rate of 8.50 per cent in 2005, compared to 5.36 per cent in 2004. Though growth in the number of internet users in the Arab world is much higher than world average estimated at around 18 per cent Arab internet user penetration is still well below the world average of around 14 per cent by end 2005.

Government initiatives, mostly supported by private IT companies, to increase the number of PCs installed at educational institutions and homes have largely contributed to growth internet use in many Arab countries.

The UAE remains the Arab leader in terms of internet user penetration rate in 2005, followed by Bahrain and Qatar.

"There remains a huge gap between Arab countries in terms of internet penetration," said Abdul Kader Kamli, president and research director of Madar Research. "While internet use has become so widespread in GCC member states, where users are dropping dial-up access in favor of broadband connections, internet use in some Arab countries is still reminiscent of the early years of the advent of public internet in the Arab world," he added.

Kamli warned of a serious inter-Arab digital divide, which he said is widening year after year. He urged the governments of non-GCC Arab countries, especially Sudan, Yemen and Algeria, to make major efforts and increase internet use among their population.

"I don't want to sound ominous, but it doesn't sound good when we consider that there is only one Internet user among every 15 people in the 12 non-GCC countries included in our studies," said Kamli.

Internet users jump by 9 million in Arab world