According to eMarketer estimates, worldwide social network ad revenues are set to grow by nearly 50% this year. eMarketer forecasts advertisers will spend $7.72 billion on social network advertising this year, including paid advertising on social sites and in social games and applications. 47% of revenues will come from the US. Furthermore, eMarketer expects nearly $12 billion will go in to social network advertising by 2014. 

According to experts at the Digital Media Forum, social network advertising is expected to grow by 34% in the MENA region in the coming years. A study by the Centre for International Media Assistance (CIMA) has also revealed that about 100 million Arabs are expected to be online by 2015, and Arabs under the age of 29 will represent 75% of Facebook users in the region. “Today one can reach a global audience with the click of a button. The advent of digital technologies is providing a wealth of opportunities in consumer choice and this will drive innovation in technology,” said Raja Trad, CEO of Leo Burnett Group.