The field of Information Technology has grown rapidly since the
World-Wide Web dramatically expanded applications of the
Internet in the mid-90s. While the United States has taken a
leading role in defining the IT curriculum and accreditation
standards, there is much work on the international scale in IT
programs around the world.
This paper will provide an overview of IT in the Middle East,
focusing primarily on the Gulf cooperation council (GCC)
countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the
United Arab Emirates. Topics covered include the institutions
offering IT programs, the curriculum covered, the status of the IT
industry, IT accreditation, and the IT work force. This information
will be set in a cultural background that will help readers
understand the developments and the challenges.