Market Insights Digital Digital Media ePublishing

eBooks - GCC

The eBooks market in GCC is projected to witness a significant growth in revenue, reaching US$40.40m by 2024.
This market segment is expected to show a steady annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2027) of 0.91%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$41.51m by 2027.
Furthermore, the number of readers in the eBooks market is expected to increase to 7.0m users by 2027.
The user penetration rate is anticipated to rise from 5.2% in 2024 to 5.5% by 2027.
Additionally, the average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected to reach US$6.32.
When compared globally, it is worth mentioning that the highest revenue is projected to be generated United States, amounting to US$5,336.00m in 2024.
In the GCC, the demand for eBooks has surged due to the region's high smartphone penetration and the convenience of digital reading.

Key regions: United States, France, China, Asia, Europe

Market

Region

Region comparison

Currency

Analyst Opinion

In comparison to physical books, eBooks are often sold for quite high prices, and consumers do not actually benefit from the cost reduction that comes from low printing and distribution expenses. This circumstance curbs the eBooks market’s growth potential heavily, although the general adaption among consumers is still consistently growing.

Methodology

Data coverage:

The data encompasses B2C enterprises. Figures are based on the ePublishing market. ePublishing is defined as paid editorial/written content distributed over the internet, including eBooks (fiction, non-fiction, and academic publications), digital editions (replicas) of consumer and trade/business magazines (eMagazines), as well as daily or weekly newspapers (ePapers). All monetary figures refer to consumer spending on digital goods or subscriptions in the respective market. This spending factors in discounts, margins, and taxes.

Modeling approach / market size:

The market size is determined through a bottom-up approach. We use annual financial reports of the market-leading companies and industry associations, third-party studies and reports, survey results from our primary research (e.g., the Statista Global Consumer Survey), as well as performance factors (e.g., user penetration, price per product, usage) to analyze the markets. To estimate the market size for each country individually, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific industry associations, such as various macroeconomic indicators, historical developments, current trends, and reported performance indicators of key market players. In particular, we consider average prices and annual purchase frequencies.

Forecasts:

We apply a variety of forecasting techniques, depending on the behavior of the relevant market. For instance, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing are well suited for forecasting digital products and services due to the non-linear growth of technology adoption. The main drivers are GDP per capita, consumer spending per capita, and 4G coverage.

Additional notes:

The data is modeled using current exchange rates. The market is updated twice a year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered at a country-specific level. The data is modeled using current exchange rates. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level. The market is updated twice a year. In some cases, the data is updated on an ad hoc basis (e.g., when new, relevant data has been released or significant changes within the market have an impact on the projected development). GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.