Gentlemen, Start Your Engines In case you didn’t notice, this is a big week for technology in the Middle East. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman – kicked off their own International Innovation Week on April 1, and they’ve also thrown in some competition for the annual Geekfest celebration in Abu Dhabi. The competition is the reason this blog (along with many others) just published a new infographic giving the top apps and brands that UAE citizens love to use. The UAE is one of the fastest-growing mobile markets in the world, with an average smartphone penetration of over 110 percent. As a result, every app built for the Middle East is being used by more people more often than it was designed for. We looked at over 10,000 smartphone app usage data points to find the top apps by category: Gaming, Travel, Messaging, Education, Photography, Health and Fitness, Productivity, News, and Social. The numbers paint an impressive picture of how mobile is enhancing the lives of UAE residents. From learning a new language to helping a family member abroad, from enjoying local food at home to exploring exotic destinations, smartphones and apps play a major role in helping Emiratis enrich their daily lives. We’ve seen all this before, and we’re happy to be a part of this rapidly growing market. At Doro, we’re always looking for ways to improve our app. We’re currently working to develop apps for new uses and purposes in multiple locations. We’re also continually researching and analyzing the market for ways to make our apps better and more useful for everyone. We’re going to need a lot more app development geniuses to keep up with the demand. Be sure to share your app experiences in the comments below or connect with us on Twitter @dorolabsinc. And if you’re attending Geekfest this weekend, stop by our booth, or stop by our sponsor, EurekaPark, to have a go-kart ride in the company of some cool creatures. The most popular apps in the UAE, according to Doro: Best Education Apps Kids in Class: K-Class K-Class is an iPad app for second-grade students that promotes reading and vocabulary skills. Created for the American Library Association’s Jumpstart program, the app uses videos, interactive lessons, flashcards, games, and much more. iCan’t Read iCan’t Read – Animated Reader for iBooks – gives students an opportunity to read by choosing words and then looking them up in a dictionary. With a choice of 3 different languages (English, Spanish, and French), it encourages students to practice spelling words in the language that they are learning. This helps reduce language gaps and the use of English as a second language for children. Best Travel Apps GPS GPS is a map and navigation tool that makes it easy to find restaurants, shopping and entertainment in popular cities around the world. It allows users to save and share their favorite places, and create custom maps with GPS My Tracks. Where is Waldo? – With new challenges every week, users can compete to find the famous Where is Waldo? icon. From the classic Waldo to popular new characters like Where is the Cheeseburger, players are challenged to find the hidden clues in the landscape in a fun puzzle game that builds in difficulty. Trip-It Trip-It helps users keep their itineraries and itinerary changes in order. The app allows users to easily add information about destinations, activities, contact information, travel insurance policies, important notes, and much more. Best Entertainment Apps The Walking Dead: The Walking Dead: Season 1 – Part 2 Walking Dead TV Show is an exciting addition to the mobile series! The next episode airs on April 7 at 8pm GMT. You can download the app and catch the next episode with your friends the day it airs! Best Productivity Apps Scrabble: Scrabble Scrabble is a classic word game that uses letters to find words in the Scrabble dictionary. A favorite among millions of wordsmiths, Scrabble has two versions: Original and Scrabble with Friends. Words with Friends: Words with Friends combines word games with people-connecting. Find friends on the Leaderboards and play on Facebook, iOS, Android, and Google+ – plus a free Scrabble crossword app on iTunes and the App Store, and many other mobile platforms worldwide. Math Play: Math Play is a free math game that helps users improve their math skills while having fun playing. It has two versions: Math Test and Math Match. Wondering about Education? Want to know more about how Doro can help you