To promote digital innovation and assist the expansion of the Emirate’s knowledge economy, Oracle opened its innovation hub in Abu Dhabi. The new building is called the “Al Mustaqbal Oracle Innovation Hub” and is situated on Al Reem Island, which is home to the company’s Abu Dhabi office.
At a ceremony where high-level officials from Abu Dhabi government and executives from Oracle were present, the hub was officially opened by His Excellency Dr Mohamed Abdelhameed Al Askar, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority.
Cherian Varghese, Senior Vice President, Technology, Middle East and Africa, Oracle, said, “This innovation hub is a medium to reach the government, public sector and all the industry. This is a place for you to innovate. Innovation for us comprises three words ‘in-nova-nation’. It means coming into a new world.”
Al Mustaqbal Oracle Innovation Hub will serve as a platform for public sector organizations in Abu Dhabi, Oracle clients, and partners to better comprehend the possibilities of cutting-edge technology. The hub will also provide training and upskilling programs in the most recent digital technologies for students, business owners, and women in tech in at the capital.
He further categorised the new generation of Emirati citizens who wish to innovate as ‘Gen O (Generation Oracle)’ “We wish to bring the Gen O and students to give them an ability to innovate, try out new technologies, new labs etc. It is meeting the ABCD of innovation (Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud and Data),” he added.
Varghese talked about how this innovation centre is giving back to society and how the Abu Dhabi government has always been supportive of our initiatives and projects. “The government has always acknowledged and appreciated our efforts. Right from setting up the offices, to the speed at which the processes and procedures were completed. The government has a 100-year visionary centenary statement called Vision 2071, which aligns perfectly with our goals.”
HE Dr Mohamed Abdelhameed Al Askar, Director General, Abu Dhabi Digital Authority commented on the launch, “The Oracle Innovation Hub is the perfect place where countless minds will join hands to share knowledge, inspire, collaborate, innovate and empower new creations in Abu Dhabi. The hub is also an ongoing commitment towards creating an enabling ecosystem for the youth to succeed and contribute to the growth of the digital economy.”
“We look forward to seeing the newly inaugurated hub as a platform for organisations across public and private sectors, including SMBs, to accelerate their digital transformation and benefit from the most recent innovations.”
When asked about the ultimate goal of this launch, Varghese said, “To put it simply, the hub plans to ‘build the future’. A future powered by technology, innovation and a vision to look forward to. This hub will be a pathway to innovation and Oracle will be a medium.”
The Al Mustaqbal Oracle Innovation Hub is Oracle’s second innovation hub in the United Arab Emirates. Over the last few years, hundreds of public and private sector leaders from the UAE and other countries have visited Oracle’s Zayed Innovation Hub in Dubai for training, mentoring sessions, and cooperative explorations of creative concepts. More than 1000 Emirati graduates of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) have also received upskilling in the newest digital technologies from Oracle through the Zayed Innovation Hub.
