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30.03.2009 Search Engine Optimization 13 Comments

Top Search Engines / Content Portals in the Middle East Regions?

Middle East Search EnginesAbout 3 months ago, while planning for topics in the launch of Click-Dubai.Com, I conducted a survey to get to know the top search engines used within the UAE and Middle East regions.

In today’s settings it would have been wise to have channeled that poll through Twitter but back then I tried my LinkedIn network through their useful Answers section. Fortunately, my connections were generous enough to share their insights.

Oh before we go to the results, one thing I forgot is to set the parameters of the poll like naming only the top 3. But instead I laid down a generic question that prompted the participants to provide as many search engine names they think are popular within the region (I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but it did arrive to a certain conclusion nevertheless).

And I’ll go on tally the votes:

(57 votes)

Google.Com – 14 Votes (24.56 %)

Maktoob.Com – 5 Votes (8.77 %)

Yahoo.Com – 4 Votes (7.02 %)

MSN.Com – 4 Votes (7.02 %)

Araboo.Com – 4 Votes (7.02 %)

Araby.Com – 3 Votes (5.26 %)

MSN Arabia – 2 Votes (3.51 %)

AME Info – 2 Votes (3.51 %)

Google. Ae – 1 Vote

4 Arabs – 1 Vote

Click2Advertising – 1 Vote

DubaiCityGuide.Com – 1 Vote

Middle East Events – 1 Vote

Middle East Directory – 1 Vote

Al Khaleej – 1 Vote

ArabWideWeb.Com – 1 Vote

Arabji.Com – 1 Vote

Khayma – 1 Vote

Islam Directory – 1 Vote

Syria Gate – 1 Vote

971Pages.Com – 1 Vote

Zawya – 1 Vote

Jazeera.Net – 1 Vote

MBC.Net – 1 Vote

Etisalat.Ae – 1 Vote

GoDubai.Com – 1 Vote

Yamli.Com – 1 Vote

It may not be as conclusive as it should be but definitely it arrived at a conclusion. Big G still has the market share even within the Middle East Regions. Although some of the votes were for large niche portals, the results eventually made a statement.

Whether you are practicing search engine optimization, web media advertising, online marketing, or even social media optimization within the Middle East, you can at least have the idea of where the people are.

Thanks to all who have participated in this poll from the LinkedIn network and one from Twitter:

Related posts:

  1. The Importance of Online Marketing (Particularly SEO, SEM, and Social Media) in the Middle East
  2. A Closer Look on Bing’s Search Engine Results for better SEO
  • http://www.ayna.com/ Mazen Halawi

    Hi Dave, what you are doing is something nice, but it seems you missed the first Arabic local search engine which started in 1997 and still leading and pioneering the way in Arabic Search, It is Ayna.com . Instead, with all due respect, the guys participating in you poll gave you portals and directories not Search Engines except for Google and Araby.
    Check Ayna.com and am sure you are gonna get a different view about the Arabic Search engines.

  • http://www.ayna.com Mazen Halawi

    Hi Dave, what you are doing is something nice, but it seems you missed the first Arabic local search engine which started in 1997 and still leading and pioneering the way in Arabic Search, It is Ayna.com . Instead, with all due respect, the guys participating in you poll gave you portals and directories not Search Engines except for Google and Araby.
    Check Ayna.com and am sure you are gonna get a different view about the Arabic Search engines.

  • Pingback: The Importance of Online Media (Particularly SEO, SEM, and Social Media) in the Middle East | Click-Dubai.Com

  • Qais

    Hello Dave,

    The sites list you have, are not all SEs. The search engines in Middle East are:
    Google.com
    Yahoo.com
    Live.com
    Araby.com (Maktoob sister company)
    Ayna.com
    Onkosh.com (Orascom sister company)

  • Qais

    Hello Dave,

    The sites list you have, are not all SEs. The search engines in Middle East are:
    Google.com
    Yahoo.com
    Live.com
    Araby.com (Maktoob sister company)
    Ayna.com
    Onkosh.com (Orascom sister company)

  • http://www.click-dubai.com/ dave

    Hi Mazen,

    Thank you for dropping by.

    Yes, I’m very aware of Ayna.Com. In fact, Ayna was one of the very first search engines for the middle east that I’ve discovered in my visit last year at the Media & Marketing show.

    The results above are from the poll that I conducted on LinkedIn.Com. You’ve noticed the votes that were cast on different large portals. I think the post goes to show 2 things:

    1. Google still rules the market share in the search industry for this region.
    2. There is not much awareness in terms of the search engine industry within the region.

    More power to Ayna.

  • http://www.click-dubai.com dave

    Hi Mazen,

    Thank you for dropping by.

    Yes, I’m very aware of Ayna.Com. In fact, Ayna was one of the very first search engines for the middle east that I’ve discovered in my visit last year at the Media & Marketing show.

    The results above are from the poll that I conducted on LinkedIn.Com. You’ve noticed the votes that were cast on different large portals. I think the post goes to show 2 things:

    1. Google still rules the market share in the search industry for this region.
    2. There is not much awareness in terms of the search engine industry within the region.

    More power to Ayna.

  • http://www.click-dubai.com/ dave

    Hi Qais,

    Yes, you had the same reaction with Mazen previously. As I’ve said the results were from the poll that I’ve conducted on LinkedIn. I’m also aware that majority of the votes were for portals instead of the pure search engines.

    When I conducted the poll, I wanted to get an idea of what the public was using in their search in this part of the world and if we do have a good understanding of search engines vs. portals vs. directories (you just gave me an idea on my next post, thank you!). Luckily Google still has the top rank as with any other parts of the globe.

    Thank you for dropping by and hoping to hear more from you in the future posts!

  • http://www.click-dubai.com dave

    Hi Qais,

    Yes, you had the same reaction with Mazen previously. As I’ve said the results were from the poll that I’ve conducted on LinkedIn. I’m also aware that majority of the votes were for portals instead of the pure search engines.

    When I conducted the poll, I wanted to get an idea of what the public was using in their search in this part of the world and if we do have a good understanding of search engines vs. portals vs. directories (you just gave me an idea on my next post, thank you!). Luckily Google still has the top rank as with any other parts of the globe.

    Thank you for dropping by and hoping to hear more from you in the future posts!

  • http://www.fosabi.com/ Mohammed Saif Ali Khan

    I came across a unique Local Search Engine recently launched in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia I belive. It is http://WWW.FOSABI.COM. The best thing of this SE is it gives more and more information of Local. To the best of my knowledge these guys are emphasizing more on human effort, I think that’s the reason I found data is more accurate. Moreove it requires simply 2 clicks to avail complete information related to each business if that compnay have no web site even. Just check it out, its pretty cool guys. Thanks

  • http://www.fosabi.com Mohammed Saif Ali Khan

    I came across a unique Local Search Engine recently launched in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia I belive. It is http://WWW.FOSABI.COM. The best thing of this SE is it gives more and more information of Local. To the best of my knowledge these guys are emphasizing more on human effort, I think that’s the reason I found data is more accurate. Moreove it requires simply 2 clicks to avail complete information related to each business if that compnay have no web site even. Just check it out, its pretty cool guys. Thanks

  • http://www.click-dubai.com dave

    Thanks for the heads up Mohammed. It’s always great to know more SE’s in the Middle East.

  • http://www.click-dubai.com/ dave

    Thanks for the heads up Mohammed. It’s always great to know more SE’s in the Middle East.