Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed an agreement of intent with the tech giant Microsoft. The strategic partnership has been aligned towards accelerating Dubai’s innovation roadmap.
The emirate has an ambitious plan for deploying advanced technologies and this partnership pushes for a dedicated effort towards enhancing Dubai’s digital economic growth, innovation, and development, in like with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The partnership will focus on leveraging smart solutions and applications to achieve Dubai’s tech transformation with education, SME, and logistics sector. Through Microsoft’s support, startups and entrepreneurs in Dubai will get access to resources and expertise.
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), said in a note: “This landmark collaboration will leverage the unique strengths and knowledge of DET and Microsoft, showcasing Dubai’s ability to build strong public-private partnerships.
“Aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, our agreement with Microsoft is central to our proven development strategy in harnessing the strengths of global partners, facilitating economic growth through exceptional access to sector knowledge, technical expertise and mentorship opportunities for key sectors.”
He added, Five years ago, the corporation also chose the city for its first data centre in the Middle East, which has been a key driver behind Dubai’s advanced-technology transformation, serving as a foundation for the deployment of modern technologies, including AI.
Technology and Logistics
Microsoft aims to provide advanced technology solutions that are essential to elevating Dubai’s logistics network. The initiative focuses on developing an integrated platform for trade that will streamline operations and improve global competitiveness. This is also in line with the strategic objective of attracting world-class hardware manufacturers and further enhancing Dubai’s position in the global logistics arena.
Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE, added: “This planned collaboration represents a shared commitment to drive innovation, promote economic development and build a thriving knowledge-based ecosystem for the future.”
Tech for SMEs
Microsoft will leverage its resources and expertise to facilitate access for technology startups and entrepreneurs and enhance the prospects of success and innovation. The technology transformation initiatives were launched to facilitate the testing and marketing of new products and technologies and position Dubai as a global innovation hub.
The note stated, Microsoft will offer cutting-edge and affordable technology solutions for SMEs in priority sectors to increase SME productivity and effectively utilise data to contribute to business growth and innovation in the emirate.
Tech for Education
A key pillar of the planned collaboration is the digital advancement of Dubai’s educational institutions, with a special focus on higher education. Through the integration of Microsoft’s innovative solutions and teaching methodologies, the work aims to reinforce Dubai’s status as a pioneer in digital education. This collaborative endeavour is set to ensure that educational institutions in Dubai continue to lead in the era of smart learning and innovation.
