This research aims to examine the effect of national IT development on Arab consumers’ behavioural intention and their actual use of smartphones. This effect was compared to the effect of two factors: usefulness and ease of use. The study was conducted in three different countries, namely, Iraq, Jordan and the UAE. A total of 1264 questionnaires were collected from smartphone consumers aged 18–29 years old in the three countries. The collected data were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling. The results revealed that the new proposed factor, national IT development, has a more significant effect on behavioural intention than the effect of perceived relative advantage (usefulness) and ease of use. The research provides information to academics, policy makers and mobile companies operating in Iraq, Jordan and the UAE, enabling them to understand the perceptions of their customers of the effects of ICT development and policies on smartphone adoption and use.