The UAE leads the Gulf countries in social media usage and penetration, a new report reveals. The report reveals a Facebook penetration rate of almost 30 per cent and more than 200,000 Twitter users and the number of Facebook users in the Arab world doubled in a year.

Until recently, experts theorized about the promises of social networking technologies, including their ability to influence a participatory governance model, grassroots civic engagement, new social dynamics, inclusive societies and new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs. A few months into 2011, there is more evidence suggesting that some of these promises can prove realistic.