Online Learning and Remote Working

Over the last two years, Google mobile searches for “remote jobs” have globally risen by 210%, which means the pandemic is accelerating an already booming trend. Thanks to the teleconferencing technology and the rising internet penetration in the region (UAE 95%, Jordan 87%, KSA 83%, Tunisia 67%, Morocco 65%, Egypt 54%, Iraq 49%, Sudan 28%), more Arab professionals are currently working from home – in the meantime,  out of necessity.

Markets are adapting to a “new normal” and so should enterprises. At the same time, development programs should invest in building the “social distancing” capacity of startups and the remote-working skill sets of freelancers and entrepreneurs. Furthermore, it should enable the regional talent pool to develop more solutions for online learning, MOOC, and other trending activities. In the last few years, revenues of the e-learning market in MENA have surpassed $500 million.