While the world average internet penetration rate stands at 25.6% today( according to the World Internet Statistics Website- September 2009), the Middle East scores a bit higher- at 28.3 % following elevated rates in Latin America, Europe, Oceana/ Australia with North American topping the list (74.2% penetration). The past decade in the Middle East has witnessed an upward slope in the usage of internet- it no longer is a commodity but a necessity in the lives of professionals, students and youngsters alike. Bayt.com & Yougov Siraj have dug deeper into internet usage in the Middle East today, the habits and attitudes of online users in the region and how it is affecting their family/ social/ professional lives. A total of 13,847 Middle East professionals participated in this survey and below are some key highlights that we, at Bayt.com would like to share with you:

- 81% of Middle East professionals surveyed access the internet from home while 41% access it from work (Lebanon mostly from home- at 89%- followed by Egypt- at 88%).

- 45% of Middle East professionals surveyed do own a computer of their own today while 39% have a shared computer with family members (users in Qatar mostly have their own computer- at 58%).

- On average, when it comes to using the internet for work, 15% of Middle East professionals surveyed spend less than hour a day, while 34% spend up to 2 hours, 25% spend between 3 to 4 hours, 11% spend 5 to 6 hours and 14% spend more than 6 hours a day.

- On average, when it comes to using the internet for leisure, 31% of Middle East professionals surveyed spend less than an hour, whereas 36% spend up to 2 hours, 29% spend 3 to 4 hours, 7% spend 5 to 6 hours and 7% spend more than 6 hours a day.

- When it comes to “internet savviness”, 24% of Middle East professionals surveyed consider themselves internet experts, while almost half of them- at 49%- consider themselves knowledgeable but do sometimes require help. 23% of Middle East professionals surveyed trust their internet skills are intermediate and only 3% consider themselves beginners. Lebanon scores in highest in terms of internet expertise with 40% of professionals surveyed declaring themselves internet experts.

- Top reasons for Middle East professionals surveyed to use the internet are: e-mailing friends at 83%, reading news at 78% and searching for job opportunities at 77%.

- Most Middle East professionals surveyed - at 38%- visit 6 to 10 sites a day. - 87% of Middle East professionals surveyed trust the internet has replaced print for political news, while 90% state it has now become their main source for business news coverage. 91% of Middle East professionals surveyed rely on the internet for lifestyle/ leisure literature today instead of the traditional sources.

- In terms of online payments for personal matters, 45% of Middle East professionals surveyed are comfortable making them while 55% are not comfortable- to varying extents. Professionals surveyed in Kuwait are the most comfortable – at 60%.

- In terms of online payments for business matters, 49% of Middle East professionals surveyed are comfortable making them while 51% are not comfortable – to varying extents. Professionals surveyed in Kuwait are the most comfortable – at 60%. - 70% of Middle East professionals surveyed feel that virtual contact has sidelined personal social interaction.

- 74% of Middle East professionals surveyed feel that the internet has facilitated networking which may not have been physically possible for them.

- 80% of Middle East professionals surveyed feel that online communication- such as chatting & e-mails- has replaced traditional forms of communication – such as telephone.

- 53% of Middle East professionals surveyed feel there is too much information available on the internet, the thing which makes it difficult for them to locate the data they require.

- 65% of Middle East professionals surveyed would be interested in pursuing online education in the future (mostly in Egypt at 76%)