Eight apps to help you survive in the Middle East

Smartphone usage has grown exponentially around the world in the last few years and the Middle East and North Africa is no exception. The Gulf states are the most enthusiastic, with the majority of citizens of the UAE and Qatar owning smartphones. The Arab Spring pushed social media and mobile technology into the headlines as it helped build mass grassroots campaigns against authoritarian leaders. Recently, iNakba has been causing a stir with its controversial aim of remapping Israel to show how the demographics and landscape have changed since the Nakba (Catastophe) that gave birth to the State of Israel, showing the growing part technology now plays in the region's politics. 

In light of this, Middle East Eye decided to have a look at eight other interesting, useful or downright zany apps that are currently making the rounds in the MENA.

1. I Am Alive (Lebanon)

Considering Lebanon's frequent bombings, some residents have been increasingly irate at the need to constantly reassure friends and families that they have survived the latest attack. In light of this, Sandra Hassan, a Lebanese masters student has produced this useful little tool that will allow smart phone user to quickly inform their contacts (phone, Facebook or Twitter) that they are, indeed, still alive.

Speaking to NPR, Hassan said she was inspired after hearing a car bomb going off in a Beirut suburb. "It was maybe a little bit frustrating that, we in Lebanon at least, that we're living in a situation that makes such an application necessary or useful. My way to express that frustration was to publish this app ... kind of as a statement against what was happening, a statement of discontent if you will."

2. Athan - Your Prayer Companion (Saudi Arabia)

Though a number of apps exist to aid practising Muslims in completing their daily rituals, Athan combines all the various tools a believer needs to keep track of their duties. Prayer times, location of nearby mosques, Qibla directions and more.

3. Tabeebi (Bahrain)

Produced by Mideast Youth, a campaigning organisation that creates platforms and web applications that promote progressives causes in the Middle East, Tabeebi is a health directory that allows users in the Gulf to find nearby hospitals, clinics, pharmacies etc. on the basis of your insurance coverage, using data from more than 22 insurance networks in the GCC countries.

4. Lebanese Army - LAF Shield (Lebanon)

For Lebanese citizens who want a faster and more efficient way of reporting crime, this app allows people to directly report crimes, incidents or "suspicious activities" to the Lebanese Army. It also contains a helpful list of wanted people and suspects and a Danger Zones Locator.

5. Mideast Tunes (Bahrain)

Another one by Mideast Youth, Mideast Tunes, as the name would suggest, is an app for browsing the latest in obscure, progressive music from the Middle East. Everything from traditional folk music to hip-hop to heavy metal is on offer, all freely available to listen to.

6. Happin' (Lebanon)

Lebanon again, Happin' (or Maa2too3a as its known in Arabic) is a tool for checking out clashes, gunfire, roadblocks and other disruptive events happening in the local area. Speaking to GlobalPost, developer Mohammad Taha said he got the idea while trapped with his wife and son on a Beirut road due to nearby clashes. "The current security situation made our application - as many of our users have said - a necessity...anything might happen anywhere." The app has now been expanded to include Egypt and other global hotspots.

7. Metadata+ (United States)

This little gadget was rejected five times by the Apple app store before it was made available. It provides realtime updates on every reported US drone strike. Using information gleaned from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, it shows locations, names of those killed and what activities they were involved in. The vague name comes from Apple's rejection of the more in-your-face "Drone+", "Drones+", and "Dronestream".

8. Beirut Electricity (Lebanon)

This handy tool lets it users know when Beirut's sometimes unpredictable electricity supply is going to go down. Although there is a draw back with this idea - as one reviewer put it: "You need to know when the power is off, to set up the app. The purpose of getting the app was to learn when the power will be off."