Yahoo! and ictQatar have announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership to collaborate on the development of the digital media and content ecosystem in Qatar.
Leveraging its global leadership as the premier digital media company and its strong presence in the Middle East, Yahoo! will work closely with ictQatar to cultivate innovation, stimulate online growth and nurture entrepreneurship in line with Qatar’s ICT2015 Strategy.
As part of the agreement, Yahoo! will collaborate with ictQatar’s incubation center as a strategic digital media knowledge partner.
This means Yahoo! will contribute its world-class know-how and global scale in the areas of digital content, multi platform applications, and digital advertising, thus participating in demand stimulation and development by working closely with local entrepreneurs and start-ups to grow digital content in Qatar.
Rich Riley, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Yahoo! Europe Middle East and Africa, said, “We are very excited to be entering into this strategic partnership with ictQatar. This is a joint project with common objectives: Qatar has incredible ambitions for growing the ICT sector and Yahoo!, as the premier digital media company, is well placed to make those plans a reality to the benefit of Qatar’s business, brands and consumers.”
“ictQatar is committed to developing a vibrant digital content ecosystem in Qatar, with a specific focus on quality Arabic content. Qatar and the Arab world have much to share, and without question the best way to share our thoughts, ideas and innovations is digitally. We look forward to working with Yahoo! as a strategic partner to make Qatar a hub for leading digital content in the region, and creating an entrepreunrial spirit among our local talent in the industry,” said Ali Al-Khulaifi, ICT Market Development Manager, ictQatar.
“With 70 million people online today in MENA and 50 million more expected to come in the next two to three years makes this one of the fastest growing markets in the world. With all this growth, there is still much to be done to develop the digital ecosystem in MENA and we are keen to be collaborating with the region’s leading initiatives to fuel this development,” said Ahmed Nassef, Vice President and Managing Director, Yahoo! Maktoob, Middle East.
In the past two years since Yahoo! acquired Maktoob, the company’s combined reach grew from 30 million users to 56 million in the Middle East and North Africa, making it the region’s leading online destination. Yahoo! has also invested in expanding its regional footprint with fully staffed offices across Dubai, Amman, Cairo, Riyadh and Casablanca, covering editorial, engineering, sales, marketing and customer care.
Christos Mastoras, Director of Business Development, Yahoo! Maktoob, said, “This is a landmark deal for Yahoo! and for the MENA region – a partnership which will help accelerate the growth of the digital media industry and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in this part of the world. We look forward to working closely with ictQatar to help achieve its ambitious plans, while potentially creating a new model of collaboration which can be leveraged across the Middle East.”
Yahoo! Maktoob will be participating at QITCOM from March 5-7, as the official online partner as well as the media partner for the event. Participation also includes a number of Yahoo! Maktoob executives taking part in several panels on entrepreneurship, digital advertising, mobile, and online video content.
Samer Marzouq
Digital Media Superhero, Online Marketing Pro, Mad-Men Fellow, Tech Junkie, Advertising Whiz, Chief-Blogging-Officer, Bilingual Copywriter, Amateur Photographer