Going paperless has become an inseparable aspect of the Middle East's digital transformation, since cashless payments and virtual documents have been incorporated into public services. Thanks to biometrics, a person's face and eyes have replaced printed ID, creating an ecosystem where every piece of information is being documented online.

The pandemic has also triggered a surge in the number of students accessing online portals for information to support learning from home. But a while before this digitisation gathered steam, Qatar had launched a digital library, which has now grown to become the world's largest collection of historic documents and images, with two million pages transferred to the digital space.

Set up in 2014, the archive focuses on gathering items that offer a peek into the Middle East's heritage, and caters to a global audience interested in the region. Thanks to most visitors from Arab countries including Oman and Saudi Arabia, the reservoir of historic data currently has 1.9 million users.

Netizens from US and India also log in to check out insights into the gulf's past, and this has led to an average of 6000 downloads every day. It has provided a boost for historical study of the Arab world, since scholars and researchers can now find information in minutes instead of waiting for weeks.

In addition to the info related to world wars and evolution of the oil sector, QDL also has rare Arabic documents about subject matter ranging from mathematics and chemistry, to philosophy and astrology.

Apart from Qatar's feat, the Emirates have also joined hands with global search engine Google to promote Arab storytellers, by creating 15000 pages of info about local authors. Instead of history, the UAE's initiative focuses on literature by helping local talent gain a wider readership on a global scale.

Another step aimed at using digital tools to promote reading, is Sharjah airport's own e-library, where travelers can find thousands of digital books.