Yahoo enters Arab Internet sector through acquisition of Maktoob.com

Yahoo is acquiring Maktoob.com, one of the Arab world's largest online portals, in its move to better target Arab auditorium in the region while making its website available in Arabic. According to Keith Nilsson, senior vice president, International Emerging Markets, Yahoo has around 44 million users in the Middle East and North Africa region per month. Meantime, Yahoo’s main competitor Google Inc already provides an Arabic language service.

It is uncertain if the agreement will involve Internet censorship. As it was in China Yahoo provided to the national government the information about the identity of Shi Tao, a reporter accused of leaking state secrets abroad who was jailed in 2007 for 10 years.

"We understand the sensitivities around cultural norms (in emerging markets) and think the Maktoob team has done a good job by abiding to those," Nilsson said, adding Yahoo "complies with local laws" in terms of service and privacy policies.

"We plan to continue to take the same approach."