Dubai: Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has unveiled details of its key achievements during the first quarter of 2023. The announcement underlines the chamber's commitment to boosting the digital economy in the emirate and supporting the ambitious Dubai Economic Agenda D33.During the first three months of this year, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy successfully cooperated with relevant government entities to attract 30 startups with strong potential in the technology sector as part of its efforts to develop the digital economy and enhance Dubai’s appeal to tech investors.The chamber has also launched a new initiative to enhance communication with key stakeholders in digital business community, and organised a series of 10 interactive workshops for the private sector focusing on specific areas of the digital economy. The workshops explored the challenges facing the targeted sectors and helped develop appropriate solutions to support companies in improving their performance and competitiveness.H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, confirmed that realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for the emirate to be a global capital of the digital economy remains a top priority for the chamber both now and in the future, and that the private sector is a key player in achieving this objective.“A main focus for the UAE is strengthening constructive dialogue with key segments of Dubai’s digital business community to determine opportunities, challenges, and recommendations,” H.E. Al Olama stated. “We aim to chart a roadmap for strengthening the emirate’s digital infrastructure, develop legislation that supports the growth of tech companies, and enhance the digital economy’s competitiveness and contribution to Dubai’s overall economic growth.”The series of interactive workshops covered a wide range of digital economy sectors including 3D printing, social media, venture capital and business incubators, ecommerce, video games, the gig economy, financial technology (FinTech), the metaverse, cryptocurrencies, healthtech, artificial intelligence, and software development.Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is committed to supporting Dubai’s digital transformation and elevating the emirate’s position as a global capital of the digital economy. The chamber’s ambitious strategy aims to attract 300 new digital startups in the coming years. As part of these efforts, Dubai Chamber of Digital economy will host the Expand North Star Summit in October. The event, which is the region’s largest gathering of startups, will showcase growth opportunities emerging in Dubai’s digital economy and serve as a strategic catalyst to expand the future of digital economy.

Dubai: Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has successfully concluded a roadshow to Hong Kong, the Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan to scout for startups to participate in the Expand North Star event in Dubai.During the roadshow, the Chamber introduced 481 startups to doing business in Dubai and highlighted the role it plays in providing support to businesses within the ecosystem. In addition, the Chamber hosted a pitch competition designed to drive participation in Expand North Star. The winner will receive a fully sponsored visit and participation in the upcoming event.As part of the Asian tour, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy also held a total of 17 private meetings with MNCs, unicorns, and incubators to explore potential collaborations within each market.Expand North Star is the largest start-up event in the world, uniting more than 1,400 exhibitors and 1,000 investors at Dubai Harbour from 15 – 18 October 2023. The event aims to ramp up the start-up entrepreneurship momentum, transcending geographic industries and intellectual boundaries as it connects government partners, investors, and corporate accelerators with innovators and tech stars from every continent.Dubai is embracing Web3 and the metaverse as part of efforts to drive the UAE’s digital economy forward, as well as fully integrating blockchain and AI technology across the public sector and investing in fintech and digital assets. Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is working to accelerate the growth of Dubai’s digital economy and attract promising digital businesses to the emirate.Expand North Star will bring together startups from across the globe to connect with industry leaders, government officials, venture capitalists, and other potential investors. The event also supports the tech community by hosting forums and initiatives that bring together international and local tech companies, entrepreneurs, investors, and other key stakeholders.Expand North Star plays a critical role in attracting and connecting the global tech community to Dubai by providing a supportive platform for innovation and collaboration. The event will feature a series of summits, innovation challenges, conferences, and exhibitions showcasing the latest technological advances. The initiative provides opportunities for networking and collaboration while further cementing Dubai’s position as a leading hub for innovation and technology, as well as driving economic growth and development both in the emirate and globally.

Doha: Today, Google Cloud announced the opening of its Doha cloud region at an official launch event attended by ministers from the Qatari Cabinet and executives from leading Qatari businesses, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Qatar Free Zone Authority (QFZ). The new cloud region will meet growing demand for cloud services in Qatar and the Middle East region and support Qatar’s National Vision 2030 that aims to transform the country into a digital economy through innovation and digital transformation. According to research commissioned by Google Cloud and conducted by Access Partnership, the new Doha cloud region is expected to drive increased economic activity and is estimated to contribute a cumulative 18.9 billion USD in higher gross economic output to the economy of Qatar between 2023 and 2030 and support the creation of 25,000 jobs in 2030 alone. This new cloud region is the latest significant investment made by Google Cloud in Qatar, following the recent opening of a country office and virtual center of excellence (CoE) in Msheireb.The series of investments in infrastructure and resources demonstrates Google Cloud’s continued commitment to playing a pivotal role in advancing Qatar’s digital future and technological capabilities. MCIT and the Qatari government have helped enable the growth of cloud across the government through the adoption of cloud policies, which facilitated Google Cloud's market entry. His Excellency Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said: “The launch of the first Google Cloud region in Qatar fits into our comprehensive vision to achieve the desired goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, including the establishment of a strong digital infrastructure with internationally agreed standards and policies that will lead us all towards a more efficient economy based on digitalization and technology to facilitate quality of life and provide convenient solutions for various sectors. The new cloud region will contribute to giving impetus to economic and productivity growth, and will allow various government and private companies and institutions within Qatar the opportunity to achieve significant efficiency gains by adopting flexible features in dealing with digital technology.”H.E. Ahmad Al Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) said: “The launch of the new Google Cloud region in Qatar marks a significant milestone in our growing partnership with Google Cloud that started in 2020 with an agreement to establish Google Cloud’s region in Doha. We are proud to provide world-class cloud services from the free zones in Qatar, this is in addition to QFZ’s pivotal role in introducing disruptive technologies and advanced digital infrastructure, creating opportunities for businesses to enhance their capabilities, foster innovation, and advance the technology sector in the State. This will further accelerate Qatar’s digital transformation and the realization of Qatar National Vision 2030 that aims to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy.”QFZ and Google Cloud’s strategic collaboration agreement to enable in-country Google Cloud presence was announced in early 2020. QFZ’s continued support of the launch of the Center of Excellence has helped the growth of the technology ecosystem in Qatar.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is excited at the opportunity offered by Google setting up its Cloud region in Qatar. This gives us the ability to innovate jointly with Google and leverage their rich Cloud service offerings. We are particularly keen to use AI/ML driven data insights using Google Cloud as a platform for enhancing our world-acclaimed customer service whilst also improving our operational efficiencies. Areas like data driven predictive maintenance will now be much easier with Google Cloud being in Qatar and our data residing here securely.” His Excellency Mr. Nasser Ghanem Al-Khelaifi, Chairman of beIN Media Group, said, “We are delighted to enter this major new partnership with Google Cloud, which will help beIN embrace latest technologies and innovations. As a proud Qatari media group, we are always looking to innovate as a business and find ways to improve the experience of millions of our subscribers worldwide. In partnership with Google Cloud, beIN will help drive the continued digital transformation of the sports, entertainment and media industry, both in Qatar and globally.”Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Financial Center said: “Our partnership with Google Cloud affirms our shared desire to facilitate the growth of local businesses by providing opportunities and solutions that enable them to capitalize on the transformative benefits of technology and digitalisation. Working with Google in this field builds up the support we provide our clients, particularly those in the financial services sector, and takes us steps forward in our mission to support the transformation of Qatar into a digital and fintech hub and the country's sustainable development in line with the national development plan.”Ahmed AlFahad, Executive Director of Technology & Network Operations, Al Jazeera Media Network stated: “We are delighted to be among the group of companies leveraging Google Cloud’s new cloud region in Qatar. The new region will help Al Jazeera positively impact and empower more customers and partners around the world. Our collaboration with Google Cloud has helped us deliver tremendous value added services to news readers around the globe. We are able to capture and analyze how people engage with news in real-time and translate these insights into actions that help us keep the world better informed. We believe that with the cloud region now in Qatar, we are going to be strongly positioned to deliver exceptional news coverage and drive deeper engagement to all the information.”Adaire Fox-Martin, President, Google Cloud Go-to-Market, said: “We are proud to be delivering on the commitment we made in 2020 to the Government of Qatar and the business community to open a cloud region in the country. The economy of Qatar holds tremendous growth potential. The Doha cloud region will be a catalyst for economic development and will create more employment opportunities in the Qatari market as more businesses grow and expand with the power of cloud technologies. We are also humbled by the presence of Qatari Cabinet Ministers and leaders from Qatari businesses at the region launch event today, which reflects the endorsement of the new cloud regions' potential.”The new Doha region is part of Google Cloud’s global network of 37 regions and 112 zones that bring cloud services to over 200 countries and territories worldwide. The new region brings high-performance, low-latency services and products to customers of all sizes, from public sector organizations, to large enterprises, to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups in Qatar and the Middle East. Organizations in the region will benefit from key controls that allow them to maintain the highest security, data residency, and compliance standards, including specific data storage requirements.Today’s news was revealed as part of a keynote by Adaire Fox-Martin, President, Go-to-Market, Google Cloud, at the company’s launch event held at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). The event was attended by over 1,200 participants from Qatar’s top decision makers, government officials, CIOs, CXOs and IT community. 

Dubai: With the active participation and sponsorship of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), SAMENA held its annual summit at the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, in the presence of H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in the United Arab Emirates as a guest of honor at the summit, and with the participation of a group of decision-makers and workers in the field of ICT in the public and private sectors in the Middle East and North Africa region.His Excellency Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, TDRA Director General, gave the opening speech in which he highlighted the importance of regional cooperation to advance the telecommunications sector and digital transformation in order to contribute to creating the future and promoting a sustainable digital economy to serve the region. He said: “Advanced digital ecosystems have proven to have an effective impact on society, economy and government work. Today, emerging technologies constitute a strong drive for the transformation process towards a sustainable digital economy, whether in the UAE or in the region and the world. However, this journey has some challenges that we must work together to overcome and turn into opportunities and prospects. One of these challenges is the legislative issue, as technologies are constantly evolving, and in order to keep pace with them legislatively, we must be highly innovative. Thus, TDRA was keen to launch the first experimental legislative environment for the ICT sector (ICT Regulatory Sandbox), on the sidelines of the World Government Summit that was held in Dubai last February.”H.E Al-Mesmar called for concerted efforts to support countries that are not connected to submarine cables, which deprives them of broadband Internet services, and offered the UAE's assistance in this context based on the UAE's global trends, and said: "The UAE is ready to provide the necessary advisory and technical support to those countries.", in order to achieve the noble global slogan raised by the United Nations in the context of its development goals, (Leave no one behind).”His Excellency Mohammed Al Ramsi, Deputy Director General for the Telecommunications Sector, participated in the activities of 5.5G session. Al Ramsi presented TDRA's efforts to enhance the infrastructure of 5G and 5.5G, and the role of this technology in promoting innovation and increasing the speed of communication between devices and stations, which support the establishment and development of smart cities in their various fields such as education, health, transport, logistics, industry and others. Al Ramsi indicated that TDRA has taken many necessary steps to facilitate the development of 5.5G, including the allocation of spectrum at 6GHz and mmWave scales.Among TDRA’s participants in the summit sessions, Adel Al Mehairi, Director of CERT, participated in a discussion session on enhancing digital trust to reach a sustainable, connected and smart world. Khalid Al Awadi, Manager of Broadcasting and Space Services, also participated in a session on the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks and space platforms. TDRA also had an active participation in the discussion session "Creating Digital Value and the Internet", where Sultan Albalooshi, Manager of Spectrum Policy, touched on the importance of infrastructure in enhancing the role of the Internet in digital life and the digital economy.On the sidelines of the summit, TDRA participated in the collective launch of the 5.5G open lab, in partnership with Etisalat by e& and Huawei. This launch reflects the stakeholders' keenness on the principle of partnership in preparing for the future and dealing smartly with new technologies.

Dubai: In his opening keynote at the SAMENA Leaders’ Summit, where the leading telecom and ICT leaders in the region gathered, Steven Yi, President of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, addressed the audience with futuristic but also pragmatic ICT industry viewpoint, reflecting on the company sustainable approach – Thriving Digital Economy Depends on Sustainable Connectivity. He reiterated that the Gulf countries continue to lead the global 5G deployment and commercialization and offer a fertile environment for the development of 5.5G.Steven said: “It is widely acknowledged that the digital economy plays a pivotal role in driving global economic growth. AI as the key technology, will help to build an intelligent world and boost digital economic progress. The rapid rise of AI technology has significantly increased computing power demand. To train and increase accuracy, AI systems need large volumes of data, which must be transmitted rapidly, processed efficiently, and stored safely.”It is estimated that by 2030, the thriving digital economy could be worth 30 trillion dollars. Huawei believes that sustainable digital economic growth will be based on three powers, the transmission power that can support over 200 billion global connections, the computing power that can meet 500 times increased AI computing demands, and the storage power that can store an impressive 1 Yottabyte (a quadrillion Gigabytes) of data yearly. He stressed that building these three powers involves continuous investment in connectivity infrastructure, green deployment and local digital talents.  “Today's connected world demands network connectivity investment. These networks are essential in connecting people with people, people with things, things with things, and transmitting data rapidly and accurately. Advanced connectivity infrastructure can bridge the digital divide and unlock digital economy benefits,” Steven added.He highlighted that 5G is a prime example of a connectivity technology that can deliver significant social, industrial, economic, and sustainability benefits. There are already 17 commercial 5G networks within the Middle East region, and coverage reaches 45 million population. He stressed that while GCC countries led the global 5G deployment wave, it is essential to continue evolving connectivity infrastructure, adopting the latest technologies in the 5.5G era, enabling 10Giga bits per second speed everywhere, supporting all scenario IoT, and integrating sensing communication. Continuous evolution to the 5.5G era is the way to ensure that the infrastructure will meet demands for a more immersive experience and unleash the potential powers for sustainable digital economic growth.He highlighted that 5G/5.5G as the crucial ICT connectivity technology can create tangible values toward a digital economy represented in many key outcomes such as reaching the top rate in internet access for more social benefits, contributing to GDP, driving better economic growth and adding new potentials to sustainability approach and energy saving through 5G networks.“A sustainable digital economy will require more than connectivity. Green ICT solutions must also be prioritized. We must consider the environmental impact as we embrace technology and extend digital networks. We can protect the environment and preserve the digital economy by incorporating eco-friendly and energy-efficient ICT infrastructure. Furthermore, ICT will also boost industry-wide green practices,” Steven added. It is estimated that adapting ICT-enabled digital solutions will help reduce 20% of global carbon emissions by 2030.He further elaborated that a sustainable digital economy demands a large pool of local talents that is proficient in the latest technologies and able to adapt to new developments quickly. Governments and businesses must continue to invest in training and education programs to ensure that workers have the skills they need to succeed in the digital economy, he explained.Huawei has a long and proud history of collaboration with governments, academia and industry to enrich the region's ICT talent ecosystem. CSR initiatives such as Seeds for the Future, the annual Huawei ICT Competition, Huawei ICT Academy, joint innovation centers, labs and other CSR initiatives empower thousands of Arab youth annually to supercharge their ICT careers. In the Middle East, Huawei has set up 186 Huawei ICT Academies, and more than 4,000 students have participated in the flagship program Seeds for the Future, while over 57,000 people have obtained Huawei certification. We also have trained over 150,000 ICT talents for the Middle East and are committed to achieving more in collaboration with our partners.“Over the last decades, we have put a lot of effort into creating social values for each country by creating hundreds and thousands of job opportunities for the local people, actively working with local partners, and cultivating over 100,000 local ICT talents through our different training certification programs. We will continue working with our partners to bring pioneering new technologies to the region that will enrich people's lives with immersive digital services and enable smart solutions to accelerate the industry’s digital transformation and related social value,” said Steven.Huawei’s training and certification programs serve as a major source of high-quality talent for industry digitalization. By the end of 2022, the global ICT leader had established Huawei ICT Academies with more than 2,200 universities across the globe. Through this program, the company trains an average of more than 200,000 students each year. Furthermore, the Huawei ICT Competition provides an international platform through which university students from around the world can compete and share ideas with each other. The sixth Huawei ICT Competition, held in 2022, attracted 150,000 university students from 85 countries and regions. This month, finalists’ teams from seven countries in the region will be in China to compete on a global level with their peers from other countries in Huawei Global ICT Competition. “We look forward to inspiring more interest and engagement in our ICT talent cultivation programs and initiatives in the region to support the local governments in their strategies and visions on digital transformation and ICT talent ecosystem,” he added.“In 2023, we will continue to maintain strategic focus and strengthen R&D investment. We will focus on creating greater value for our customers, partners, and society. Huawei remains open to collaboration and is always looking to join hands with outstanding researchers, developers, innovators and partners from around the world to address the biggest challenges of our times,” stated Steven.Steven described SAMENA Leaders’ Summit as an enlightening and insightful conference as it focuses on crucial pillars of economic development, including sustainable connectivity, ecosystems, and the digital economy. Reiterating the importance of connectivity, he closed his keynote with a popular Chinese saying, ‘If you want to get rich, build roads first’. “Building a strong connectivity infrastructure is critical to the growth of the digital economy. Just as roads and bridges are essential to the physical economy, a robust connectivity infrastructure is the foundation upon which the digital economy is built,” Steven concluded.Huawei’s recent annual report demonstrated that the company continues to strengthen investment in R&D, with an annual expenditure of USD23.22 billion in 2022, representing 25.1% of the company's annual revenue and bringing its total R&D expenditure over the past 10 years to more than USD 140.55 billion.

Dubai, UAE — With the world gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurs and startups are seeking new opportunities and connections to expand their businesses. In this regard, Dubai has emerged as one of the top cities for startup networking, offering an ideal environment for growth and development. As per the report by The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and Entrepreneur Middle East, startups located in Dubai raised a remarkable 96% of all funds raised in the UAE since 2017, highlighting Dubai's position as the go-to destination for fundraising for startups in 2022.Here are five reasons why Dubai is the best city for startup networking in 2023:1. Strategic Location: Dubai's location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa makes it a vital hub for startups looking to expand their reach and connect with potential customers and partners from around the world. It offers a unique advantage to entrepreneurs who want to tap into various markets and grow their businesses globally.2. Business-Friendly Policies: The Dubai government has implemented several business-friendly policies and initiatives that create a conducive environment for startups. These include tax exemptions, streamlined business registration processes, and incentives for startups to thrive. Alongside this, the government permits the creation of businesses owned by foreign entities, allowing people across the globe to operate a company in Dubai. According to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, the government is seeking 30 startups that aspire to reach unicorn status by 2030. The D33 economy plan prioritizes the growth of startups, and Dubai is actively identifying and supporting them.3. Access to Capital: Dubai is home to a diverse range of venture capital firms, angel investors, and other sources of funding for startups. This abundance of funding options makes it easier for entrepreneurs to raise capital and launch their businesses. A report by The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and Entrepreneur Middle East states that as of the end of October 2022, startups based in Dubai had raised more than $2 billion in funding, which constitutes the majority of the country's total fundraising of $2.5 billion.4. Supportive Ecosystem: the city’s startup ecosystem is thriving, with a plethora of resources and support available to entrepreneurs. The government has established several initiatives and organizations to provide access to funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities for startups.5. Startup Events and Conferences: the emirate hosts several startup events and conferences throughout the year, providing numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses, network with other startups and investors, and gain valuable insights and knowledge from industry experts. One of the most popular is STEP Conference, the event that brings together startups, entrepreneurs and investors from the Middle East and North Africa region. It features workshops, panel discussions, and keynote speeches on topics such as fintech, e-commerce, and marketing."Dubai is quickly becoming a hub for startups and entrepreneurs, and we're thrilled to be a part of this exciting community,"said Alex Galtsev, CEO of Realiste, a proptech startup that develops AI-based products for real estate investments. "The city's strategic location, supportive ecosystem, and business-friendly policies make it an ideal place for us to grow our business and connect with other like-minded individuals and organizations."Realiste is committed to driving innovation and growth in the real estate industry and promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech sector. The company's goal is to build the first real estate exchange that can help to identify the most profitable options in the market, allow for online purchases within seconds directly from developers, and manage all purchased assets in one place. In 2022, Realliste was recognized as the leading artificial intelligence startup in the UAE.

 International Data Corporation (IDC) today launched the 16th edition of its annual IDC Middle East CIO Summit at Dubai's Atlantis, The Palm. With more than 500 of the region's most influential ICT decision makers in attendance, the two-day event — which this year runs under the theme 'Enabling the Digital Economy's Leaders' — was opened by IDC's global president, Crawford Del Prete, as he presented the summit's keynote, 'Strategies for the CIO and Enterprise Innovation'."As storms of disruption continue to gather, it is crucial that CIOs are clear on what they need to do now — and in the future — to create an environment for long-term sustainable innovation," said Del Prete. "Central to this is the need to build a culture of trust across the entire organization and its broader ecosystem of partners and customers. We are increasingly seeing a move toward greater industry ecosystem-led innovation, and it is important that CIOs fully understand the implications of this ongoing decentralization. At the same time, enterprise leaders must view increased line-of-business investment as a springboard to greater innovation and not an end state in itself."The IDC Middle East CIO Summit has been a staple of the region's ICT calendar for 16 years, serving as the ICT community's premier source of learning about the industry's latest developments. As well as informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and expert-led panel sessions, this year's edition incorporates five different 'Transformation Zones' demonstrating pioneering use cases and technological advances in the areas of the metaverse, DevOps, customer experience, sustainability, and Industry 4.0.The rise of the digital economy was central to discussions on Day 1 of the summit, with IDC's group vice president and regional managing director for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, Jyoti Lalchandani, explaining that it is one of the hottest tech trends shaping investment in 2023. "We are seeing a growing focus across the region on developing the infrastructure, innovation platforms, and skills required to support the expansion of digital businesses," said Lalchandani. "To set themselves apart in an increasingly competitive market, organizations need to leverage infrastructure, data, and skills alongside critical technology enablers such as 5G, the cloud, and AI. Only then will they be able to successfully re-invent their business models, create new customer experiences, and drive innovation with their partners."The Day 1 agenda also included a series of fascinating 'For the CIO by the CIO' panel discussions, with expert insights from some of the region's most respected end-user tech leaders on topics such as:Talent Development and the Demand for New Skills: How to Optimally Structure Your TeamSustainable Strategies and Technologies: Operationalization, Impact Measurability, and Business Value CreationVendor Selection and Management: Best Practices and What to Look Out ForDay 2 of the IDC Middle East CIO Summit 2023 commences at 9:00 am tomorrow and will include an exclusive keynote from His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of cybersecurity for the UAE government. There will also be a show-stopping performance from contemporary artist Neil Harbisson, the world's first officially recognized human cyborg, while IDC's senior vice president and regional managing director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Steven Frantzen, will take to the stage to examine the unprecedented rate of disruption that is being caused by the emergence of a thriving digital economy."Digital-native firms, equipped with new business models and armed with substantial venture capital funding, have disrupted supply chains in numerous industries, fueling growth in areas such as ecommerce, direct-to-consumer services, digital payments, and cloud kitchens," says Frantzen. "With the metaverse and Web3 paradigms on the horizon, further disruption is expected to individual, enterprise, and industrial digital experiences."The agenda for Day 2 of the IDC Middle East CIO Summit 2023 will also incorporate a series of expert-led technology track sessions focusing on the following key themes:Cyber Protection for Today and Tomorrow: Dynamic Security Strategies to Minimize RiskConnecting the Distributed Cloud: From the Edge to the Core     Enabling the Data-Driven Enterprise      AI and Analytics: How to Win in the Intelligent Economy The event will conclude with the IDC Excellence Awards 2023, which will recognize the efforts of the Middle East's leading technology executives across three categories: CIO of the Year; CISO of the Year; and Women in Technology & Business.To learn more about the IDC Middle East CIO Summit 2023, please click here or contact Sheila Manek at smanek@idc.com / +971 4 446 3154.The IDC Middle East CIO Summit 2023 is supported by the UAE's Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology, the UAE's Cyber Security Council, Kuwait's Central Agency for Information Technology, and Dubai Municipality. IDC is also honored to have a wide range of partners on board for the event, including:Host Partner: Gulf Business Machines (GBM); Strategic Partner: Microsoft; Smart ICT Partner: Red Hat; Digital Solutions Partner: MDS System Integration; Trailblazer Partners: VMware, Huco; Sustainability Partner: Cisco; DX Partner: Tech Mahindra; Innovation Partner: HCL Tech; Summit Partners: Google Cloud / Mandiant, Zero&One, Riverbed, AWS, UiPath; Platinum Partners: eMudhra, Fortinet, SentinelOne, Denodo, f5, Snowflake, ServiceNow, Micro Focus, Boomi, HUMAN Security, Tenable, Recorded Future; Technology Focus Group Partners: Crayon, Equinix, Veeam, OpenText, Hyland, SquareOne, Kaspersky, Manage Engine, RiCSOC / Sahara Watira, Kyndryl, Swimlane, Advanced Technology Consultancy / Huawei, Pure Storage, Mendix, NetApp / Ingram Micro; Sustainability Transformation Zone Partner: Microsoft; Industry 4.0 Transformation Zone Partner: Infor; Exhibit Partners: SER Group, Rimini Street, Freshworks, Truspeq, Infinidat, SymphonyAI Summit, New Smart Office Automation, BMC; Associate Partners: Emirates Digital Association for Women, UAE Banks Federation, Women in AI, Women in Cyber Security Middle East; Media Partners: Tech Magazine, IE Industry Events, AI Time Journal, DX Talks, GCC Business News, Security Middle East Magazine, Global Business Magazine, CoinPedia, Coinspeaker, U.Today, International Business Magazine, TechX, Media 7, DigitalsetGo.

 Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy will host a series of high-level events, meetings and activities as a strategic partner at North Star Dubai, the largest startup event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, organised as part of GITEX Global 2022.With the Chamber’s support, record participation is expected at North Star Dubai 2022, with exhibition capacity increasing by 30% to accommodate more than 1,000 exhibitors from 60 countries, along with over 600 investors, in a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.Visitors to the Chamber’s North Star Dubai stand will get the chance to learn all about Dubai’s digital and entrepreneurial ecosystem, as well as the Chamber’s various programmes, initiatives and services that it offers digital startups.VR and metaverse experiencesVisitors can immerse themselves in the metaverse using VR technology at the Chamber’s stand and apply for the Future of the Digital Economy: Business in the Metaverse Academy, which has recently been opened to digital startups from around the world.The first-of-its-kind specialised training program will equip digital startups with practical knowledge and tools they need to build in the metaverse and leverage Web3 to their benefit.High-level networking and business meetingsThe Chamber will host several high-level events bringing together unicorns and more than 100 major investors from around the world that will familiarise them with Dubai’s digital economy and competitive advantages, public and private sector stakeholders in the emirate. The events will be attended by His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.On the final day of GITEX Global 2022, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy will announce a new major initiative designed to attract and high-potential ideas in future-focused industries that will create a huge economic and social impact globally.In addition, the Chamber will host panel discussions on the sidelines of North Star, joined by tech industry leaders from the UAE and abroad to share knowledge and discuss market challenges and opportunities. Representatives from Dubai Chambers’ offices in India, China, Ethiopia, and Azerbaijan will also play an active role at GITEX Global 2022, as they facilitate business meetings between 20 visiting delegates and their UAE counterparts, which include Dubai-based government entities, leading businesses and investors.Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, will be present at the Dubai Government stand at GITEX Global 2022, where it will showcase the 50 electronic services that it currently offers to businesses, as well as new innovative digital projects that aim to enhance economic competitiveness and improve ease of doing business in Dubai. Khalid Al Jarwan, Executive Director of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, highlighted the Chamber’s commitment to unify and maximise its efforts to develop Dubai’s digital economy and cement emirate’s position as a leading technology and innovation hub.“The Chamber’s participation at GITEX GLOBAL and its strategic partnership with North Star Dubai Our strategic partnership with North Star Dubai will enhance and expand our efforts to attract promising digital startups to Dubai and advance the emirate’s digital economy ecosystem,” he said.New market insightsDubai Chamber of Digital Economy has released a new report in collaboration with Entrepreneur Middle East magazine titled Roadmap to Reinforcing Dubai’s Position as the World Capital of the Digital Economy, which sheds lights on the emirate’s digital economy ecosystem and business and financing opportunities emerging in the market for startups and scaleups. Created a practical guide for international startups and investors, the report also outlines new strategies incorporating AI, blockchain, Web3 and the metaverse, which aim to accelerate the sector’s growth in the future.