Demand for personal computers in the Middle East is growing at a rate of twice the global average.
New data shows the regional market grew 7.4 per cent for the third quarter compared with the same period last year.
According to a report by IDC, a research company, worldwide PC shipments growth for the same period was sluggish at 3.2 per cent.
Analysts say computer makers have cut the prices of laptop and desktop computers, making these devices more attractive to first-time buyers in a region that has a low PC penetration rate.
"They are more affordable and they have become a must-have commodity to communicate, to surf the internet," said Fouad Charakla, a senior research analyst at IDC. "Most of the multinational IT vendors have a very high level of focus in the Middle East and Africa region, and they are investing very heavily here," he said.
Total PCs shipped to the region amounted to 4.9 million units in the third quarter.
Notebooks were the most popular products, with shipments growing 15.1 per cent to 2.94 million units, compared to desktops, which reached 1.78 million.
"The major volume is still laptops in this part of the world. It's not just tablets growing, it's PCs growing as well," said Ashish Panjabi, the chief operating officer for Jacky's, a UAE electronics retailer.
He said his business hadlowered prices significantly in the notebook segment, where the cheapest device now cost Dh1,600 (US$435) compared with last year's price of more than Dh2,000.
Hewlett-Packard (HP), the world's biggest PC maker, is among the companies that have aggressively cut notebook prices, according to IDC.
HP also has the largest share of the Middle East and Africa's computer market and its product shipments grew 37.1 per cent in the third quarter in the region, compared with last year's corresponding period. Dell, the region's second-biggest computer maker by market share, recorded 6 per cent growth for the quarter, while sales for third-placed Toshiba rose by 28.6 per cent.
In the GCC region, the UAE and Saudi Arabia recorded the strongest growth of 24 per cent and 26 per cent respectively for the third quarter.
High volumes of stock sold by retailers during Dubai's Gitex technology week helped to account for growth in the Emirates.
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