UAE to spend $15bn on ICT by 2011

Research conducted by economic and financial analysts Global Insight shows that the UAE is currently spending $11.4bn on ICT and that figure is set to rise to $14.8bn by 2011.

Hundreds of companies from across the UAE will participate at Gitex Technology Week, 19-23 October 2008 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, looking to build on strong relationships between the rest of the world and the UAE technology industries.

Al Salwa Computer Devices, Al Yah Satellite Communications, Avaya Intelligent Communications, CERT, Etisalat, Jacky's Middle East, Mitel Networks, Ortronics, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Thuraya Satellite are some of the other UAE companies participating.

These companies will sit alongside other major international exhibitors such as Blackberry, Dell, Etisalat, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle Systems, Panasonic, Sharp and Symantec.

'Many ICT companies from across the world are using the UAE as a base for their Middle East global operations. Gitex Technology Week is helping with this huge increase in spending by allowing UAE and international companies to connect with businesses and establish lasting working relationships,'

said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of Gitex Technology Week.

The largest area of spending in the UAE ICT market, according to the research, is within the consumer sector, with US$ 5.3 billion currently being spent; a figure that is set to rise to US$ 6.8 billion in the next three years. The UAE is also currently spending nearly US$ 1 billion on ICT in the communications, energy and utilities, and Government sectors, with each rising to US$ 1.2 billion by 2011.

Mr. Sami Abi Esber, President, Mideast Data Systems, said: 'Gitex Technology Week is always a very important exhibition where our group MDS UAE, chosen by IDC as the number one IT service company in UAE for the fourth consecutive year, gets the opportunity to highlight its services to a global market. We are looking to further build on the excellent contacts we have built following our participation at the exhibition.'

With Gitex Technology Week taking place in Dubai, the heart of the UAE, thousands of visitors from the country, the region and beyond will attend one of the top technology exhibitions in the world.

This year's Gitex Technology Week will incorporate a powerful week of dedicated trade events, including Gitex Business Solutions, GULFCOMMS and Consumer Electronics, as well as targeted networking initiatives designed to ensure the event covers the entire technology spectrum.

To support the show's focus on high-level business development and strategic alliances, Gitex Technology Week Global Conference programme has been expanded to include an impressive 35 tracks of interactive discussion, featuring some of the world's leading industry experts on new generation technology.

Some of the leading experts in the field of IT will be speaking at the event, including the Chief Information Officer of the multi billion dollar aluminium firm, DUBAL, Ahmad Alumulla; Tariq Y. Elsadik, the Chief Information Officer at Abu Dhabi based conglomerate Al Fahim; Fadi Hindi, the Head of IT Planning and Enterprise Architecture for Dubai Customs and John Fitzgerald, CEO, Beyond Encryption Technologies.

In addition, Gitex Technology Week will present the exclusive Gitex Majlis, an executive business programme for CEOs and senior business professionals providing a networking forum, executive lounge and preferred priority seating at seminars, workshops and keynotes.

Innovation will also be on display in the world of electronic gaming, with the inaugural Gitex Digital Game World. Gitex Technology Week will provide a platform to discuss the business-to-business potential of this innovative market a series of developer workshops at the event, with specific emphasis on supporting the development of original Arabic games and software.

Taking place simultaneously at the Gitex Shopper & Consumer Electronics Expo regional teams will battle it out in a series of organised games and online tournaments, to win the opportunity to compete with the visiting world's best gamers in the 'Intel Extreme Masters' competition.
Gitex Shopper & Consumer Electronics Expo takes place at Airport Expo, Dubai, 18-24 October, 2008

Visitors are encouraged to pre-register now for the event online at www.gitex.com where they can also avail of the new online payment for the conference and five-day visitor ticket, to ensure quick and easy access. The price of a one-day pass is Dhs40 and Dhs100 for a five-day pass. Admission includes access to all events including Gitex Business Solutions, GULFCOMMS, and Consumer Electronics.