An oft quoted statistic since 1998 claims that only 8% of women in Arab states are IT literate. This is more than a bit dubious. In my everyday life, most women that I meet are avid internet and mobile users.

Interestingly, new statistics coming out show quite a large increase in women interested in IT.

In the recently Arab Women in Science and Technology conference, held 28-30 September 2009, Fathi Gherbal, professor of mechanical engineering and material science and bioengineering, Rice University, USA, commented that women were an integral part of the recent growth in the IT sector in the Arab world.

Moreover, in the very conservative Saudi Arabia, the number of women who take on the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) rose from just 10 percent in 2006 to 35 percent in 2009, according to ICDL Saudi Arabia. They expect it to quickly bypass 50 percent in the next few years as well.

In Qatar, there is an increasing presence of women majoring in IT in Qatar Technical College of Qatar University.

This is especially interesting in the Middle Eastern concept, because it will open up a job market that can be very appealing to the women demographic in the region. A lot of work in the IT sector can be done from home, which solves a major hurdle for many women, especially in Saudi Arabia.

However, it would be interesting to keep an eye on whether the societies in the region give an equal opportunity to women as they give men. In many countries in the region, while women education is high, employment is quite low, and the pay can be lower than a man in the same position. But things are slowly changing in this regard now.

Will women become driving gears in the booming IT market in the region? And what needs to be done to ensure they get this opportunity?