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Mobile is now central to economic diversification across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The region has some of the world’s most advanced 5G markets across the Gulf Cooperation Council states, but large parts of MENA's population remain offline, and the 2026 regional conflict has shown how vulnerable digital infrastructure is.
In 2025, mobile technologies and services generated $380 billion of economic value across MENA, equivalent to 5.8% of GDP, and supported 2.2 million jobs. Mobile’s contribution is forecast to reach $470 billion by 2030. To realise this will require narrowing the usage gap, keeping investment strong as revenue growth stays moderate, and building networks that can withstand uncertain conditions.
This report also examines how 5G, AI infrastructure and digital identity are transforming the region and explores what policymakers need to do to support operators.
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The Mobile Economy Middle East and North Africa 2026
This report is from the The Mobile Economy series
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The Mobile Economy Middle East and North Africa 2026
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