Despite the fact that Google is a bit late to organize such event, it will remain a big news for the industry. Google is turning its head towards the Middle East and warming up to organize its first Google Day: Arabia 2.0 event.
Google Day aims to bring around 150 government and thought leaders together to think and debate about the future innovation – prospects and challenges – in the Arab World. Google says this is going to be an exciting time for the evolution of Middle East internet development which has a challenge and an opporunity to take a leap of faith and embrace the benefits of the internet and content online.
My question lies here: Is Google really looking for innovative ideas for region’s internet development? or is it actually looking for competitive edge in the region? I mean it’s not a cliche that Yahoo acquisition to Maktoob gives Yahoo Mail access opportunity to 1/3 of internet users in the region which threaten their flagship product Gmail and Gmail enterprise.
The event day and place is not yet set, I would expect it would be either in Dubai or Cairo, surprising everyone if in Abu Dhabi and not surprisingly at all if it wasn’t in Lebanon or Jordan (the Silicon Valley of the Middle East) because Google doesn’t have physical presence in both.