Top Internet Speeds in Arab Countries and Worldwide for 2024

The internet has undergone a radical transformation since the beginning of the new millennium, achieving major leaps surpassing all expectations in its growth and reach. From modest speeds not exceeding 56 kilobits per second, today we are talking about speeds measured in megabits and even gigabits. This remarkable evolution is not limited to speed increase, but has also extended to the number of users and the volume of data transmitted over the web. In the midst of this evolution, some Arab countries have solidified their position among the global elite in terms of internet speeds. So, in this article, let’s take a look at the fastest and slowest internet connections – both mobile (phone networks) and fixed – in the Arab region first, and then globally as a whole.

It is worth noting that the numbers mentioned below focus on download speeds only and not upload speeds, as we relied on the Global Ookla Speedtest Index which adds any country with more than 300 different users testing speed via SpeedTest tool, reflecting aggregated data from millions of tests conducted by users, providing a comprehensive view of global internet performance. However, please note that some countries are exempt from the ranking altogether, and some may not reflect actual values and averages.

1. UAE – Average download speed about 400 megabits per second.
2. Qatar – Average download speed about 350 megabits per second.
3. Kuwait – Average download speed about 250 megabits per second.
4. Saudi Arabia – Average download speed about 120 megabits per second.
5. Bahrain – Average download speed about 110 megabits per second.
6. Oman – Average download speed about 85 megabits per second.
7. Morocco – Average download speed about 40 megabits per second.
8. Lebanon – Average download speed about 34 megabits per second.
9. Iraq – Average download speed about 33 megabits per second.
10. Jordan – Average download speed about 29 megabits per second.

The Gulf countries lead the scene in mobile internet speeds in the Arab world, with Gulf countries occupying the top positions in Arab mobile internet speeds, led by the United Arab Emirates, closely followed by Qatar, then Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, which have also shown strong performance in Arab mobile internet speeds. Oman, on the other hand, has slower internet speeds but still better than any non-Gulf Arab country.

This Gulf superiority is attributed to massive investments in digital infrastructure and rapid adoption of modern technologies. The outstanding performance of the UAE stems from its early adoption of 5G technology and large investments in infrastructure, in addition to strong government support for digital transformation initiatives and continuous efforts to update infrastructure. Qatar and Kuwait have also shown impressive mobile internet performance, reflecting their comprehensive approach to developing digital infrastructure supported by continuous large investments and wide coverage of fifth-generation networks. Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in recent years, as initiatives under Vision 2030 have accelerated the rapid deployment of 5G networks and increased competition among service providers, leading to noticeable improvements in mobile internet performance.

The significant variation in mobile internet speeds in the Arab world is due to the Gulf countries quickly obtaining 5G networks, while many other Arab countries are still struggling to provide comprehensive coverage of fourth-generation networks. Even Oman, with the slowest mobile internet speeds among Gulf countries, surpasses all other Arab countries. On the other hand, countries like Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Syria, and Yemen suffer from the slowest mobile internet speeds in the Arab region, with no data available on Palestine due to current circumstances.

As evident from the above list, the scene varies significantly when it comes to fixed internet, despite the continued dominance of Gulf countries in this area as well, with the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar still at the top positions. However, compared to mobile internet speeds, some differences should be noted.

While mobile internet connectivity in Jordan is the lowest among the top 10 performing Arab countries, fixed internet is much better with higher average speeds than Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Similarly, Egypt, although having lower fixed internet speeds compared to the global average, still excels in comparison to other Arab countries, while also being among the worst in terms of mobile internet speeds.

Lebanon stands out as an interesting example, with excellent mobile internet speeds ranking eighth among Arabs, but owning one of the worst fixed internet speeds in the Arab world and globally, with an average download speed of 16 megabits per second. This contrast can be explained by Lebanon’s mountainous geographical nature, making wireless communication networks a more practical option than traditional wired networks.

On a global scale, the United Arab Emirates achieved a historic milestone by topping the list of the fastest mobile internet networks in the world, surpassing South Korea, which dominated this position for many years. Interestingly, there are 4 Arab countries among the top 10 performing countries globally, with the UAE leading, followed by Qatar in second place globally, then Kuwait, and then Saudi Arabia, although not matching the exceptional speeds achieved by the UAE and Qatar. If the list were slightly longer, Bahrain, which ranks 12th, would also confirm significant technological progress in the Gulf region.

While the Gulf countries have some of the fastest mobile internet services in the world, the situation is completely different in other countries. In fact, among the worst 10 countries in terms of mobile internet, there are 3 Arab countries, and when looking at the global average, all Arab countries except for Gulf countries and Morocco have mobile internet connections below the global average.

Similarly to mobile internet, both European and Asian countries dominate the global scene of fixed internet, with Singapore leading the ranking, followed by Hong Kong and Chile after the United Arab Emirates among the top 10 best-performing countries globally, with the UAE coming in second place, making it clear Arab leader, followed by Kuwait in 16th place and Qatar in 21st place globally. On the other side of the ranking, 3 Arab countries are among the worst (Libya, Yemen, Syria). Africa ranks last in terms of internet speeds, and although some countries provide high and relatively good speeds, most African countries suffer from very slow internet connections.

Notes on Arab and Global Internet Speeds

The statistics above reveal a significant digital divide in internet speeds depending on the type of connection, with the comparison of the fastest and slowest mobile internet speeds in the world showing that the slowest connection accounts for only about 2.1%. This is a significant gap, indicating a vast difference between countries, especially considering that both the fastest and slowest are Arab countries in the Asian section. This gap is even more apparent in fixed internet speeds, where the ratio is less than one percent between the fastest and slowest connection, and once again both values are in Asia.

The variation in internet speeds is evident between neighboring countries, influenced by multiple economic and political factors. This variation is evident in many cases, such as the significant difference between Singapore and Malaysia, Morocco and Algeria, Egypt and Libya, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. These differences reflect the economic and technological challenges facing internet infrastructure development in the region.