An annual event, the forum expects to attract close to 1000 participants from around the world, and this year's event will be held under the theme "Top 100 eGovernment and eServices projects", in accordance with regional government initiatives to develop unique and sophisticated institutional systems backed by the latest technology and ICT solutions. E-government services enhance government interactions and speed and simplify transactions through the use of such technologies as mobile and internet.

Nations are ranked in terms of "e-government readiness" according to standards that measure their performance and progress in the implementation of such services. In the GCC progress has not been uniform. In some parts of the region the expansion and development of the ICT sector has been accompanied by a noticeable improvement in world rankings with regard to "networked readiness" and "e-government readiness", while other parts of the GCC have demonstrated slower progress. Speaking about the importance of e-government Initiatives, Ali Al Kamali, managing director - Datamatix Group, said "For governments looking to create more cost-effective and efficient ways to serve the public, e-government has become a top priority.

As in any technology-centered field, there is always room for further development, and keeping up with the latest trends is an ongoing process." He went on to say, "the potential that e-government holds to improve public services and contribute to social and economic growth in the region is tremendous, but continued effort and further investment are needed and certain issues like security remain top of the agenda. The key objective of the 'GCC eGovernment and eServices Forum' is to showcase e-government developments in the Middle East region and learn from the examples set by successful e-government initiatives around the world."

The forum will bring together experts, key government and industry representatives, and academics from the various countries to discuss the latest issues and trends in e-government and will serve as a platform to introduce the latest technology, innovations, solutions, and practices.