Could AbsoluteGeeks.com be the region’s next big tech site?

What do you get if you combine three Dubai-based technology
lovers, a firm friendship, and the omnipresent World Wide Web? As
it turns out, this potent combination has brought us the Middle
East’s newest online hub for all things tech: Absolute Geeks.

“We love technology and are
incredibly curious about new phones and devices. In fact, we just
crave to get our hands on what could be the world’s next pioneering
piece of technology. As much as we get a kick from using these
devices, we equally enjoy sharing our opinions with fellow geeks
and contributing reviews to other tech-related sites,” explains
Khalid Akbik (pictured right), a member of the site’s founding
team.

Akbik, who specializes in social media, had been running his own
blog called Gadget
Camel for some time, as did the other two members of the techie
trio: Kinan Jarjous and Samer Chami (who previously blogged at
TheBigSam.com).  

According to the founders, the
region lacked a fresh, credible, and comprehensive tech site, where
true blue techies and total novices alike could find information to
meet their needs. “Whenever we wanted to buy a new device, we’d
first go online and look up reviews on major tech websites, most of
which are US-based. But the device specifications in these
locations are different than what they’d be in the Middle East,
making this information irrelevant,” points out Jarjous (pictured
left).

Cofounder Chami, pictured below, reminisces: “It dawned on us
that since we loved technology, wrote about it regularly for other
sites and on our own blogs, that we should just unite our efforts
and launch the ultimate site for all things geek.”

And so they did, going live with Absolute Geeks in January of
this year.

So as the new kid on the block,
what makes them different? Jarjous responds: “We are a homegrown
tech portal that brings you the latest scoop on what’s happening on
the geek scene. We each have our own style of writing that’s
distinctively warm, witty, and easy to understand. Basically, we
are your regular neighborhood geeks who love interacting with
devices as much we love engaging in a dialogue with our audience.
We are not a static site that only posts content but doesn’t
interact with users.”

The site has met with a great response and the founders
frequently receive invitations to speak at tech events,
participate in product launches, and provide reviews as
influencers. While the site has amassed a steadily growing
readership, differentiating Absolute Geeks to make it attractive to
the right audiences and brands is the main priority, according to
Akbik. He notes: “We are focused on strengthening our content, in
particular providing more Arabic content, and building our
community of loyal readers. We want to be the foremost thought
leader on tech.”

While the site does not currently rely on advertising revenue,
it occasionally offers product giveaways that generate an
enthusiastic response. In addition, they receive constant inquiries
from contributors eager to share their tech pieces for publication
on the site. Jarjous contends that this phenomenon reflects the
growing presence of savvy writers in the region who are seeking
opportunities to have their voice heard. “We are working on
developing contributor criteria and submission guidelines so that
we can crowd source content. Perhaps down the road, we could very
well be The Huffington Post for all things tech!” he says with a
smile.