ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL4.SIT/2026/TP.2
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Information material
Cluster: Statistics, Information Society and Technology
Focus Area: Technology & innovation
Initiatives: Digital Development
SDGs: Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Keywords: Arab countries, Artificial intelligence, Digital technology, Economic statistics, Electronic commerce, Gross domestic product, Input-output analysis, Knowledge-based economy, National accounts, Regional cooperation, Statistical capacity, Cloud computing
Digitization and compilation of supply and use tables (SUTs) in the system of national accounts (SNA) 2025
April 2026
The rapid expansion of the digital economy in the Arab region offers a significant opportunity for economic and social development. Arab countries benefit from strong human capital, a young educated population, ample financial resources, and a strategic geographic position. Recognizing this potential, ESCWA has called for comprehensive national and regional digital agendas supported by robust statistical frameworks, in the light of the growing contribution of the digital economy to GDP and the urgent need to modernize statistical standards and strengthen capacity.
The adoption of SNA 2025 provides an updated international framework to better capture digitalization, including the development of Digital Supply and Use Tables (DSUT) that integrate digital activities into macroeconomic statistics. However, major challenges persist and addressing them requires methodological innovation, stronger institutional partnerships, and sustained investment in statistical capacity building. This paper examines digitalization in SNA 2025 and approaches to measuring the digital economy in the Arab context, DSUTs, informal digital activities, international experiences, and digital prices. It concludes by calling for enhanced regional cooperation to harmonize methodologies, implement joint pilot projects, and develop a unified Arab roadmap for measuring and advancing the digital economy.
Related content
Technology & innovation
The rapid expansion of the digital economy in the Arab region offers a significant opportunity for economic and social development. Arab countries benefit from strong human capital, a young educated population, ample financial resources, and a strategic geographic position. Recognizing this potential, ESCWA has called for comprehensive national and regional digital agendas supported by robust statistical frameworks, in the light of the growing contribution of the digital economy to GDP and the urgent need to modernize statistical standards and strengthen capacity.
The adoption of SNA 2025 provides an updated international framework to better capture digitalization, including the development of Digital Supply and Use Tables (DSUT) that integrate digital activities into macroeconomic statistics. However, major challenges persist and addressing them requires methodological innovation, stronger institutional partnerships, and sustained investment in statistical capacity building. This paper examines digitalization in SNA 2025 and approaches to measuring the digital economy in the Arab context, DSUTs, informal digital activities, international experiences, and digital prices. It concludes by calling for enhanced regional cooperation to harmonize methodologies, implement joint pilot projects, and develop a unified Arab roadmap for measuring and advancing the digital economy.
