1With its intriguing title, The Digital Double Bind: Change and Stasis in the Middle East, Mohamed Zayani and Joe F. Khalil immediately draw the reader’s attention, signaling the core argument of their book. This work stands out as a unique contribution to the study of digital transformations in the Middle East, both for its originality and the breadth of its multi-level analysis. However, while the book is intellectually stimulating, fully grasping its arguments requires careful engagement with its details, which might be perceived as either a strength or a limitation, depending on the reader’s perspective.
2Divided into five parts and fourteen chapters, the book explores the Middle East’s digital transformation from historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and technological perspectives. The timely nature of this book is evident, considering the rapid adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the region. The authors bring a wide range of significant cases and examples, including state infrastructures, corporate initiatives, software innovations, and individual stories.
3While the chapters are strongly related and built upon each other, some titles may not fully capture the content (e.g., The Digital as Digitality), requiring the reader to make an effort to transition smoothly from one chapter to the next. Additionally, while the book explores several cases of digital transformation in the region, it places a strong emphasis on more effective cases, particularly in the Gulf region. A more detailed inclusion of challenges and cases with varying outcomes could further enrich the understanding of the region’s diverse digital landscape.
4The opening chapter, The Digital Middle East, outlines the concept of the “digital double bind,” where technological advancements coexist with persistent infrastructural and socio-political disparities, and introduces cornerstone projects such as NEOM. The chapter does not fully articulate the book’s overarching themes, leaving no solid roadmap to guide the narrative thread through the following chapters, particularly in the absence of a separate introduction.
5Building on the concepts that lay the foundation for understanding the digital transformation in the Middle East, Chapter 2, Reckoning with Change, provides a historical overview of the region’s communication technologies, from satellite TV to internet adoption. While the effort to contextualize the digital era within a broader historical framework is commendable, the narrative experiences some abrupt shifts across time periods, which can make it challenging to fully connect technological changes to socio-political developments.
6A key strength of the authors’ approach is how they seamlessly build each section and chapter upon the previous one. After establishing the context and historical background of the region’s digital transformation, they explore, in Chapter 3, The Digital as Infrastructure, the foundational role and development of digital infrastructures. The chapter categorizes Middle Eastern countries into three clusters based on their level of digital readiness: (1) Gulf countries topped by the UAE; (2) Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia; and (3) Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Algeria, Mauritania, Palestine, Somalia and Sudan.
7One of the book’s main contributions made in chapter 4, Technologies of Center and Periphery, is the discussion on digital transformation using a range of global indexes like the World Economic Forum Network Readiness Index, the International Telecommunication Union’s data, McKinsey’s Digitalization Index, Cisco’s Global Digital Readiness Index, and the Arab Federation Economy Report. Drawing on an analysis of economic, literacy, and strategic barriers, the authors advocate for an integrated approach for digital transformation that goes beyond technological advancements to include enabling environments, social acceptance, and cohesive policy alignment. While somewhat abstract and undetailed, this approach is valuable for policymakers seeking to drive digital transformation in their countries.
8With a slightly ambiguous title, The Digital as Digitality, Chapter 5 addresses the digital landscape, focusing on the institutions responsible for managing the internet in various countries. These include Tunisia’s Internet Agency (established in 1996), Egypt’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (1999), Jordan’s Information and Communication Technology Association (2000), the UAE’s Etisalat, and Saudi Arabia’s Telecommunications Company. The chapter highlights how the development of digital infrastructure in the region is a country-specific process, shaped by a complex interplay of economic, political, geographical, and social factors.
9Beyond digital infrastructure, Chapter 6, The Enticement of Digital Citizenship, discusses how ICT enables diasporic communities and ethnoreligious groups (e.g., Amazigh, Bedoon, and Kurds) to create alternative identities, though it stops short of interpreting how ICT shapes collective identities through relevant theories like connective action (Bennett & Segerberg, 2013). It also explores how virtual communities, such as Alsaha.com (established in 1998) and Arabsgate.com (2000), promote collective identity, while social media and blogs support individual expression.
10Transitioning from a sociological focus on digital citizenship, Chapter 7, Collective Voices and Digital Contention, takes a political lens to explore social movements. The chapter traces the evolution of internet-based activism, from Usenet groups and email lists in the late 1990s to weblogs and social media by the late 2000s. It presents a nuanced perspective on the role of digital platforms in mobilizing protests before and during the Arab Spring, framing them as tools rather than causes, aligning with theories like Castells (2013) that highlight governments’ adaptation to ICTs to limit their impact.
11Building on the previous two chapters’ focus on users and movements, Chapter 8, Digital and Disruptive Power, shifts to examining governments’ digital power. The authors explore how states mitigate the impact of ICTs through access restrictions, free speech limitations, and legal measures. They also address pressing issues of cyber privacy and security, highlighting examples such as cyber warfare between Israel and Hezbollah and disinformation campaigns using fake users and bots during the Gulf Crisis (2017–2021).
12Shifting from the influence of ICTs on social actors, Chapter 9, In Pursuit of Knowledge Economy, takes an economic perspective. It contrasts the Gulf countries, with significant investments in infrastructure, education and e-government, against other regions struggling with political instability and weak institutions. The authors note limited institutional research and innovation, with exceptions like Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Qatar Foundation’s Education City, Dubai’s Knowledge Village, and Oman’s Knowledge Oasis Muscat.
13Expanding on the knowledge economy, the authors address in Chapter 10, Cultural and Creative Industries, the role of ICT in culture, leisure, and entertainment, adopting a useful modern approach to studying digital communication. They discuss significant digital culture forms, including e-publishing (e.g. Al Manhal), digital journalism (e.g. Nawaat), web portals (e.g., Zawya), gaming (e.g., Sakhr), e-sports (e.g., Dubai e-Sports Festival), streaming platforms (e.g., Shahid), music streaming (e.g., Anghami), and podcasts (e.g., Kerning Cultures). The chapter’s rich examples demonstrate regional leadership potential in creative sectors, though discussing the challenges of scaling beyond regional markets could have further enriched the scope.
14Focusing on the digital economy, Chapter 11, Emerging Digital Economies, highlights Dubai’s leadership through initiatives such as Internet City, Media City, and Knowledge Village. The chapter also showcases prominent institutions like the e-commerce platform Souq, ride-hailing service Careem, and music streaming service Anghami. It further covers advancements in the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing, reflecting the region’s growing interest in smart cities like Neom and Masdar.
15Shifting to a cultural-demographic approach, Chapter 12, Virtual Lives and Digital Spaces, addresses the impact of ICTs on daily life issues, such as the influence of digital media on gender mixing and women driving ban in Saudi Arabia. The chapter also highlights the rise of digital Islam, with figures like Amr Khaled gaining influence, and the role of platforms like Islamonline.net in shaping religious identities. Additionally, it explores virtual exhibitions at cultural institutions like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the use of museums, such as those established by NGOs in Palestine, to promote national identity.
16Building on the previous chapter, the authors focus in Chapter 13, The Demographics of a Connected Culture, on three significant groups affected by the Internet: children, youth, and women. It raises concerns about children’s exposure to unregulated content on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Minecraft, youth’s access to sensitive materials, and women’s lack of access and representation in IT decision-making. While the analysis provides valuable insights into these groups, the chapter could benefit from incorporating theories such as mediatization (Hjarvard, 2013) to interpret how ICTs shape social practices in the region.
17Taking a broader cultural perspective, chapter 14, Collectivity, Identity, and Multivocality, explores ICTs impact on identity and values. The chapter explains how personal expression, driven by high exposure to social media, conflicts with collective values. It effectively interprets cultural phenomena, such as the Egyptian TV series Ayza Atgawez and Mahrganat music, that challenge traditional norms. It also explores how digital spaces empower marginalized women, as seen in campaigns like #NudePhotoRevolutionary, while highlighting the risks of digital fame, exemplified by the arrests of Egyptian influencers Mawada Aladham and Haneen Hosam.
18Overall, the book provides a multifaceted exploration of digital transformations in the Middle East, covering themes like infrastructure, citizenship, activism, governance, economy, and culture. While its inclusive scope is a strength, the lack of engagement with theoretical frameworks (e.g., mediatization, connective action, and communication power) disconnects some elements from their theoretical foundations. Additionally, the absence of visuals and the use of long paragraphs may hinder readability. Nevertheless, the book makes a valuable contribution to understanding ICTs in the Middle East, making it essential for scholars and policymakers interested in the region’s digital future.