Prepared for: The Emirates Internet Project at the American University of SharjahContacts: Dr. Ilhem Allagui at iallagui@aus.edu and Dr. Harris Breslow at hbreslow@aus.eduDate: June 2013

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Emirates Internet ProjectEmirates Internet Project

Content

Background & Objective

Study Profile

Sources of Information

Usage of Internet

General Activities

Key Findings

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Emirates Internet Project

Objective of the Study

R E S E A R C H O B J E C T I V E

The main objective of the study is to measure the internet

penetration & consumption among users of the internet in the UAE

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• UAE Residents

• Locals, Arabs and Expats

• Males and females

• Aged 16+ years

• Users and non-users of

internet Who

UAE• Abu Dhabi

• Dubai

• Sharjah

• Ajman

• Umm Al Quwain

• Ras Al Khaimah

• FujairahWhere

The fieldwork was conducted between May 2013 – June 2013

When

How

• The study was done using CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing)

• A well structured questionnaire was designed to answer the main objective of the

study

• Interviews were conducted in both Arabic and English depending on the respondents

convenient.

• The LOI (Length of Interview) was ranging between 10-15 minutes

Research Design

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72% 28%

GENDER NATIONALITY

20%

38%

26%

16%

16-24 25-34 35-44 45+

AGE

Locals17%

Arabs28% Expats

55%

MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

10,000 and below 8.9%

10.001 – 15,000 21.8%

15,001 – 20,000 10.9%

20,001 – 25,000 8.1%

25,001 – 30,000 7.6%

Above 30,000 18.2%

Refused/ Don’t know 24.7%

Total Sample Profile

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

Full-Time 62.5%

Part-Time 6.1%

Housewife/Househusband 8.8%

Unemployed 10.8%

Retired 2.1%

Others 9.8%

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Primary school or lower 3.4%

Secondary school/middle school/attending

high school13%

High school graduate/vocational school 20.9%

Attending or attended university 23.4%

College degree/university degree or higher 31.8%

Refused 7.6%

34%

32%

19%

5%

5%

3%

1%

Abu Dhabi

Dubai

Sharjah

Ajman

Ras Al Khaimah

Fujairah

Umm Al Quwain

REGION

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6Nobody’s Unpredictable

Key Findings

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Key Findings (1/2)

People in the UAE consider the WOM (Word of Mouth) as their main source of information,

followed directly by the interest. 68% of the total population agree that the internet is an

important source of information.

The internet penetration among the population of the UAE is 76%.

75% of the internet users are males, more than half are expats, & they are mostly between

the ages of (25-34) where as the non-user are of a higher age group 45+.

Internet users mostly use the internet from home followed by work

Users access the internet from mobile phones and tablets around 14hrs a week

Consumption of the internet is at its highest among friends followed by family members

81% of internet users have internet connections at home

67% of the internet connection used at home Broadband (Always On)

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Key Findings (2/2)

80% of internet users have on average 2 social network accounts.

Most of the Locals & the expats depend on the Arabic language when surfing the internet, chatting,

& text messaging. However some rely on both English & Arabic.

More than 80% of the expats rely on the English Language while using the internet. .

More than 60% of internet users consider the internet to be helpful in various ways such as staying

in touch with friends & family, seeking job opportunities, learning about UAE, staying up to date, etc

Around 67% of the internet consumers have concerns towards using their credit cards online. Only

12% have no concerns at all

Around 70% of the internet consumers are involved in other activities while using the internet.

Main barriers among those who are not using the internet are:

Due to lack of interest

Internet is not seen as useful

Unfamiliarity and difficulty to use

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Nobody’s Unpredictable

Sources of Information

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3.74

3.71

3.71

3.68

3.85

- WOM (Word of Mouth is the most used source for information gathering followed by the internet.

- Expats more than the other segments rely highly on the internet as a main source of information gathering

Importance of SourcesFor General Information

Average

67.9%

64.6%

64.4%

63%

70.4%

21.4%

24.9%

24.3%

26.3%

21.8%

5.4%

6.6%

7.6%

6.7%

4%

Internet

Television

Newspaper

Radio

Interpersonalsources (i.e.

family, friends)

Top 2 Box Neutral Bottom 2 Box

Base: 800, All Respondents

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3.80

3.82

3.74

3.74

Importance of SourcesFor Entertainment

Average

69.1%

69.8%

67.3%

66.8%

21.5%

22.1%

22.4%

23.5%

5.6%

4.8%

6.5%

5.7%

Internet

Television

Newspaper

Radio

Top 2 Box Neutral Bottom 2 Box

Base: 800, All Respondents

- Television followed by the internet are considered to be the main sources of entertainment

- Expats more than the other segments rely highly on the internet as a main source of entertainment.

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Nobody’s Unpredictable

Usage of Internet

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Internet Penetration

Internet Users76%

Non-Users24%

Base: 800, All Respondents

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74% 26%

GENDER NATIONALITY

25%

41%

25%

9%

16-24 25-34 35-44 45+

AGE

Locals15%

Arabs28%

Expats57%

MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

10,000 and below 7.2%

10.001 – 15,000 23.7%

15,001 – 20,000 12%

20,001 – 25,000 8%

25,001 – 30,000 7.9%

Above 30,000 19.3%

Refused/ Don’t know 21.9%

Internet User Profile

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

Part-Time 6.7%

Full-Time 59.2%

Housewife/Househusband 8.4%

Unemployed 12.8%

Retired 0.5%

Others 12.5%

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Primary school or lower 2.8%

Secondary school/middle school/attending

high school 9%

High school graduate/vocational school 17.2%

Attending or attended university 26.7%

College degree/university degree or higher 37.2%

Refused 6.2%

REGION

26%

36%

24%

5%

2%

4%

3%

Abu Dhabi

Dubai

Sharjah

Ajman

Umm Al Quwain

Ras Al Khaimah

Fujairah

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63% 37%

GENDER NATIONALITY

4%

30% 28%

39%

16-24 25-34 35-44 45+

AGE REGION

60%

20%

5%

4%

10%

3%

Abu Dhabi

Dubai

Sharjah

Ajman

Umm Al Quwain

Ras Al Khaimah

Fujairah

Locals24%

Arabs28%

Expats48%

MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

10,000 and below 14.2%

10.001 – 15,000 15.3%

15,001 – 20,000 7.4%

20,001 – 25,000 8.4%

25,001 – 30,000 6.8%

Above 30,000 14.3%

Refused/ Don’t know 33.7%

Non-Internet User Profile

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

Part-Time 4.2%

Full-Time 73.2%

Housewife/Househusband 10%

Unemployed 4.2%

Retired 7.4%

Others 1.1%

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Primary school or lower 5.3%

Secondary school/middle school/attending

high school 25.8%

High school graduate/vocational school 32.6%

Attending or attended university 12.6%

College degree/university degree or higher 14.2%

Refused 9.5%

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At home

At work

At school/

university

Anywhere else

(i.e. internet cafes,

libraries, etc..)

Locals (n=91)Base: 610, Internet users

Usage of Internet in a Week

Arabs (n=171) Expats (n=348)Total (n=610)

Avg. hours spent per week using the internet

12:42

8:36

1:00

0:36

12:12

7:22

5:16

3:53

10:28

4:51

3:24

1:31

12:12

7:41

2:33

1:40

- The most time spent using the internet is at home.

- Arabs & Expats use the internet more from home that the locals.

- Where as the expats are the ones who use the internet most from work

- Arab Students use the internet from school more frequently than other students.

Significantly Higher

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Usage of Internet on Mobile Phones and Tablet

Base: 610, Internet users

Mobile Phones

Tablet

49.7%63.7%

26.9%

57.2%

Total Locals Arabs Expats

22.1%

58.2%

25.7%10.9%

Total Locals Arabs Expats

Avg. hours spent per week

14:30 17:18 20:30 12:12

14:18 11:48 19:30 11:48

Significantly Higher - The locals more than the other 2 nationalities access the internet

through tablets & mobile phones.

- Where as the highest average of time spent from the Arabs

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Variation of Internet Consumption level When

Socializing Around Specific Groups of People …

63.7%

63.6%

60.2%

50.7%

50.3%

50.2%

25.4%

23.6%

25.4%

26.1%

28.7%

31.5%

4.3%

5.9%

5.4%

11.3%

9.5%

7.9%

Friends

Family

People in your profession

People who share your politicalviews

People who share your religiousbeliefs

People who share yourhobbies/recreational activities

Increases Remains The Same Decreases

Mean Score

(out of 5)

3.70

3.65

3.49

3.18

3.21

3.26

Base: 610, Internet users

- The internet consumption somewhat increases around friends & family members

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Agreement Level on Various Statements

55.7%

54.6%

52.6%

49.7%

23.4%

24.6%

23.8%

24.6%

6.7%

6.6%

9.2%

9.2%

Public officials will care more whatpeople like you think

People like you can betterunderstand politics

People like you will have more sayabout what the government does

People like you can have morepolitical power

Agree Neither Agree Nor Disagree Disagree

Mean Score

(out of 5)

3.36

3.24

3.18

3.06

Base: 610, Internet users

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Internet Connection

80.5%

19.5%

Yes

No

Availability of Internet at HomeBase: 610, Internet users

24.2%40.4%

8%

75.8%59.6%

92%

Locals Arabs Expats

Type of Internet Connection

67.4%

27.1%

3.9%1.6%Broadband/Always onMobileBroadbandPhone Modem

Don't know

47.8% 39.2%18.8%

44.9% 52%77.2%

Locals Arabs Expats

Total

Total

- The vast majority of Expats have internet connection at home

- Mostly types of home connection they have is Broadband

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Social Networking

79.7%

17.5%

2.8%

Yes

No

Don'tknow

Ownership of Social Network Account

Average Number of Accounts

Owners By Social Network

Users is 2 Accounts

Base: 610, Internet users

Owning A Social Network Account

- 80% of internet users have social network accounts

- Those that have social network accounts have at least 2 accounts

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Do instant messaging

Participate in chat rooms

Look for news-local, national, international

Update your social networking status

Download or watch videos

Make or receive phone calls over the Internet

Comment on other people's blogs, message

boards

Work on your Blog

Download or listen to music

Upload music videos

Post messages or comments on discussion

boards

5.1

3.9

5.4

5.2

5.9

5.6

6.2

5.7

4.4

5.4

7.2

38.5

33

29.7

29.5

28.2

27.9

27.7

27.5

27.2

26.2

26.1

24.1

26.9

29.5

27.5

27.2

29.7

28

26.4

27.9

28.5

27.5

13.6

11

11.6

12.3

10.5

12.1

12.3

13.4

13.4

13

13

3.1

4.8

5.9

7

6.9

5.2

5.2

4.1

5.7

5.6

4.6

13.1

17.7

13.9

14.8

16.9

17

16.7

19

16.6

18

18.4

Several times a day Daily Weekly

Monthly Less than monthly Never

Frequency

Frequency of Using the Internet by Activity (1/2)

Base: 610, Internet users

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Look for travel info

Look at religious or spiritual sites

Look for jobs, work

Look for health info

Get information for school related work

Post photos or pictures on the Internet

Listen to a radio station online

Read Blogs

Play games

Participate in distance learning for an

academic degree or job training

5.2

5.6

4.3

5.9

4.6

6.7

5.4

6.1

6.2

4.3

26.1

25.4

25.2

24.8

24.3

23.6

23.6

23.4

23.1

23.1

26.9

26.1

27.5

26.9

24.8

31.1

24.4

28

29.5

22.3

14.4

12.1

11.6

16.4

12.3

13.9

11.6

11.6

10.3

12.8

7.7

6.1

6.2

5.2

5.1

5.7

5.2

5.9

6.2

4.6

15.1

20

20.7

15.9

23.9

15.7

25.2

20

20.2

27.9

Several times a day Daily Weekly

Monthly Less than monthly Never

Frequency

Frequency of Using the Internet by Activity (2/2)

Base: 610, Internet users

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Get information about a

product

Buy things online

Make travel

reservations/bookings

Pay bills

Use your bank's online

services

Invest in

stocks/funds/bonds

3.9

2.6

4.9

3.8

5.4

4.6

20.2

14.9

14.8

16.1

15.2

14.1

22

21.6

18.5

18.5

18.9

17.9

10.8

12.6

14.3

12.8

12.6

9.2

6.1

8

8.2

7

5.4

6.1

34.3

37.5

35.7

38.5

39.7

44.6

Several times a day Daily Weekly

Monthly Less than monthly Never

Frequency

Frequency of Transactions

Base: 610, Internet users

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Language Used (1/2)

49.5%

3.3%22%

1.1% 2.2%13.2%

57.9%

7.6% 11.1%0.6% 3.5% 5.3%8.6%

83%

2.3% 0.9% 3.2%

Arabic English Arabic & English Hindi &Malayalam

Tagalog(Filipino)

OtherEmail

Instant Messaging

Visiting Websites

Base: 610, Internet Users

56%

4.4%

25.3%

2.2% 4.4%

59.1%

7% 13.5%0.6% 1.8% 2.9%8.3%

84.2%

2.9% 2.9%

Arabic English Arabic & English Hindi &Malayalam

Tagalog(Filipino)

Other

56%

4.4%

27.5%

1.1% 3.3%

61.4%

4.7%14.6%

0.6% 1.8% 2.9%8.3%

83.9%

2.9% 3.4%

Arabic English Arabic & English Hindi &Malayalam

Tagalog(Filipino)

Other

Locals Arabs Expats

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Language Used (2/2)

49.5%

7.7%25.3%

3.3%

60.8%

4.1% 11.7%1.8% 2.3%8.3%

81.9%

2.9% 3.4%

Arabic English Arabic & English Hindi &Malayalam

Tagalog(Filipino)

OtherTweeting

Social Networking

Text Messaging

Base: 610, Internet Users

52.7%

6.6%

26.4%

4.4%

61.4%

5.3%14.6%

1.8% 2.9%8%

83.3%

3.2% 2.3%

Arabic English Arabic & English Hindi &Malayalam

Tagalog(Filipino)

Other

57.1%

5.5%

25.3%

3.3%

63.7%

4.7%13.5%

1.2% 3.5%8%

83.6%

3.2% 1.4%

Arabic English Arabic & English Hindi &Malayalam

Tagalog(Filipino)

Other

Locals Arabs Expats

- For Locals & Arabs, Arabic is the most used language when using the internet.

- ¼ of the Locals Use both the English and Arabic

- Where as for expats English is most commonly used.

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Is The Internet Helpful . . .

65.6%

65.6%

65.2%

65.1%

64.8%

64%

63.9%

21.8%

21.5%

21.8%

21.1%

23%

19.2%

24.6%

4%

5.1%

5.3%

5%

4.3%

5.6%

3.7%

Staying in touch with friends/ familyin your home country

Exploring career options in othercountries

Exploring career options in the U.A.E

Learning about events in the Emiratewhere you reside/ stay

Staying up to date with UAE news

Learning more about your homecountry

Preserving your national heritage/culture

Top 2 Box Neutral Bottom 2 Box

Mean Score

(out of 5)

3.60

3.59

3.58

3.56

3.61

3.51

3.61

Base: 610, Internet users

- More than 60% of the population believe that the internet is helpful in various ways.

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Security Concern on Credit Card or Bank card Information

Extremely concerned

16.1%

Very concerned

23.8%

Concerned18.7%

Somewhat concerned

7.9%Not at all

concerned11.6%

Do not have credit card or

bank card8.7%

Don't know13.3%

- Around 67% of the internet consumers have concerns

towards using their credit cards online.

- Only 12% have no concerns at all

Level of ConcernBase: 610, Internet users

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Engaging in Other Activity While Using the Internet

Engaged in more than one activity while using the internet

No, 23.8%

Yes, sometimes,

30.2%

Yes, Most of the time, 39.2%

Don't know, 4.4%

Refused, 2.5%

Base: 610, Internet users

- Around 70% of the internet consumers are involved in

other activities while using the internet.

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Reasons for NOT Using the Internet

Base: 190, Non-internet users

No interest/ not useful

Don't know how to use/Confusedby technology

No time/ too busy

No computer/ Internet Connection

Too expensive/ cannot afford thefees/charges

23.2%

20.5%

20.5%

18.4%

5.3%

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Nobody’s Unpredictable

General Activities

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Socialization with Family and Friends

Base: 800, All respondents

Avg. no. of hours in a Week Socializing with Family & Friends

Average number

of hours spent

socializing with

Family per Week

21 hrs.

With Friends With Family

Average number of

hours spent

socializing with

Friends per Week

17 hrs.

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Evaluation of Personal Opinion

50.8%

49.2%

48.6%

47.8%

47.5%

47.5%

46.9%

16%

18%

19.4%

18.3%

17.8%

20.2%

19.3%

11.1%

10.5%

8.7%

10.9%

12.3%

13.1%

14.2%

In general, I feel comfortable saying whatever Ithink about politics.

People should be free to criticize theirgovernment on the Internet.

The government should regulate the Internetmore than it does now.

It is okay for people to express their ideas onthe Internet, even if they are extreme.

On the Internet, it is safe to say whatever youthink about politics.

I am worried about the government checkingwhat I do online.

I am worried about companies checking what Ido online.

Agree Neither Agree Nor Disagree Disagree

Mean Score

(out of 5)

2.88

2.84

2.83

2.78

2.79

2.16

2.14

Base: 800, All respondents

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Thank you

© 2013 Ipsos MediaCT– all rights reserved

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