Dubai 2003 Technology Committee provides world class communications and technology infrastructure for Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund

The responsibility for this highly complex and sophisticated undertaking has been borne by the Technology Services Committee of Dubai 2003 headed by Mr. Obaid Bin Mes'Har, the General Manager of Etisalat for the Dubai region.

The sheer scale of the local and international landlines, mobile telephone systems, high-speed Internet access, provision of computers and televisions to cater for the event has never been undertaken before at the Annual Meetings.

Mr. Mes'Har said: "The Technology Services Committee along with Etisalat are very proud to have been responsible for delivering world class solutions to the biggest annual gathering of the global financial community. The Joint Secretariat of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund has very specific requirements for an event of this magnitude and we have been able to successfully supply every aspect that has been required."

"Our job has been to take care of every aspect of the communications required throughout the Dubai International Convention Centre (DICC) for the event to cater for every eventuality."

The wide-ranging facilities the Technology Services Committee, with assistance from Etisalat, have put in place include:

•A fixed switchboard capable of handling 3,500 connections and more than 1,200 direct telephone lines into the DICC and increasing the power required for international calls during the event;
•Enhancing cell phone coverage to the extent that up to 53,000 mobile phones can be used at one time within the complex if required;
•Establishing direct communication links between the DICC and World Bank and International Monetary Fund offices in Washington;
•Providing 750 computers and more than 500 printers for staff and delegates during the Annual Meetings;
•400 direct internet links for journalists to connect their laptops;
•High speed internet connections and computers for journalists in the press room
•30 plasma screens to display information about the meetings
•40 information booths with display screens in the exhibition halls;
•A special network system for international broadcast media with the provision of 10 channels for live broadcasts from the venue and links to internal studios
•Providing 350 mobile phones and 150 walkie talkies for Joint Secretariat staff
•Creating a service centre where mobile phones can be purchased and rented and provision of faxing and other office services

Mr. Mes'Har added that Etisalat was also introducing a special SMS service that would alert delegates and the media to any changes in the programme or schedules during the period of the Annual Meetings.

He added that the Technology Services Committee was currently recruiting UAE nationals from Universities in the country to incorporate them into technical support teams and will commence training from 1 August to give them the skills required to offer technical assistance and support for participants operating from the DICC.

"The Committee, in association with DEWA, is also undertaking a number of tests on all the equipment that is being installed to ensure that we are ready to handle any unexpected circumstance or emergency and maintain communications links throughout the Meetings," he added.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. The UAE and Dubai were selected because of their highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.