Dubai: Current investment in Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) is
worth Dh19 billion and the projects will be implemented by 2012,
according to a senior official.
Jihad Kiwan, executive director of technology and investment
generation, DSOA, said: "This is a start and our long term projects
will be worth much more."
The Dubai government established DSOA a few years ago to attract
investment in the semi-conductor sector and it is expected to support
the region's information technology services sector.
Current IT spending in the Middle East and Africa is $40 billion
(Dh146.8 billion), according to global IT research organisation
International Data Corporation.
"The Gulf IT market is expected to be worth over $9 billion (Dh33
billion) by the end of this year," it said in a latest report.
However, experts say the region has been lagging behind in research and development in the information technology sector.
The Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority has attracted investments in two
major factories within its premises. "There is a factory for laptop and
flat panel display units and another for building films to capture
solar energy," Kiwan said.
Dubai Future Projects 
