Middle East and Africa Accessibility Testing Market

Market Overview

The Middle East and Africa accessibility testing market size witnessed significant growth in the past and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.41% during the forecast period (2022-2030).

Accessibility testing is a form of usability testing that ensures that individuals with various abilities and disabilities can easily use a website or application. Its purpose is to evaluate both the usability and accessibility aspects. By conducting accessibility testing, we can determine how effectively people can navigate and interact with a website and use that feedback to enhance future designs and implementations.

Many governments and regulatory bodies in the region actively promote the development of an informed society, where e-government websites serve as a crucial link between the government and its citizens. To ensure that all individuals can fully benefit from e-government services, it is essential to establish universal accessibility measures.

Highlights

• Web App dominates the market by type.
• Small and Medium Enterprises dominate the market by application.
• UAE dominated the market by region.

Market Dynamics

Middle East and Africa Accessibility Testing Market Drivers

Government Backing for Accessibility

The requirement to offer similar functionality for individuals with disabilities has resulted in a significant demand for web accessibility testing services. Various laws, regulations, and guidelines like section 508, web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.0), ADA, and CVAA have contributed to the wider adoption of accessibility services in the information technology sector. These measures aim to guarantee that people with disabilities can access and utilize websites and applications. Moreover, the W3C has established multiple web standards that assist IT companies in developing websites and applications that meet the prescribed criteria, thus enabling users with diverse abilities to access them.

Increasing Reliance on Mobile and Web Applications

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 1 billion individuals, making up 20% of the population, will have some form of disability. With advancing technology, mobile devices and applications have become indispensable for daily activities. They provide the convenience of performing various tasks from anywhere, such as ordering food or engaging in online and offline games. Accessibility is critical in enabling individuals with disabilities to access technology, which can be facilitated through specialized tools like web accessibility evaluation tools or WCAG 2.0 audits.

Middle East and Africa Accessibility Testing Market Restraints

Lack of Adaptability and Failure to Meet Regulatory Standards

A recent survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 42% of the surveyed countries lacked specific policies focused on rehabilitation. The survey also revealed that half of the laws related to rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities were not implemented. Additionally, 40% of the countries surveyed did not establish rehabilitation programs. On the other hand, although some countries had well-defined legislation and policies regarding rehabilitation, they encountered considerable difficulties in implementing these policies and providing effective rehabilitation services.

Middle East and Africa Accessibility Testing Market Opportunities

The Power of AI and Automation Tools in Accessibility Testing

In today's digital era, the significance of accessibility has grown significantly. The market for accessibility testing services is expected to gain advantages from the progress made in AI-powered solutions and automation. There is an increasing demand for enhanced tools to improve accessibility testing and fully leverage its benefits. One such tool is the Ability Lab Dynamic Assessment Plugin, a browser extension that identifies and assesses accessibility issues, offering suggestions for potential remedies. Developed to integrate with Chrome Browser development tools seamlessly, this plugin automates accessibility testing, ensuring that the user experience aligns with industry standards and is optimized accordingly.

Segmental Analysis

The market of Middle East and Africa accessibility testing is segmented into types and applications.

By type, it is further segmented into web apps and mobile apps.

Web App is the market and is expected to register a CAGR of 7.33% over the forecast period.

It is further segmented by application into small and medium enterprises and large enterprises.

Small and Medium Enterprise dominated the market and is expected to register a CAGR of 7.40% over the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

The accessibility testing market is segmented by country: UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Rest of Middle East, and Africa. UAE dominated the market with a CAGR of 7.47% during the forecast period.

The Middle East and Africa region represents a promising market for accessibility testing services. With a growing emphasis on inclusivity and digital accessibility, regional organizations are increasingly adopting accessibility testing to ensure compliance and provide equal access to information and services for individuals with disabilities.

Recent Developments

• October 2019- Qualitest expanded to Austin, Texas, Lisbon, Portugal, and Mexico City, to address the growing needs of its clients and support ongoing business development industries, such as financial services, media and entertainment, retail, consumer goods, technology, gaming, and telecom.
• May 2019- QA InfoTech team gathered in New Delhi, India, to set up kiosks and hold panel discussions to make digital inclusiveness a way of life. The motto was to inject accessibility into the early stages of SDLC.
• February 2019- Intopia launched a visual map of WCAG 2.1., which can be downloaded digitally.