Microsoft hosts first Middle East developer conference in Dubai

The event brought together members of the software development community from a range of different roles, to give them a forum for discussion and education as part of Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the local software industry.

The conference previewed future Microsoft technologies and trends and updated developers on how to utilize Microsoft's platform to develop effective solutions.

"The hosting of our first Middle East Developer Conference in Dubai signifies the maturity and the progress that the local developer community has reached," said Vimal Sethi, DPE Lead, Microsoft Gulf. "The Gulf region has an abundance of developer talent, and those developers aspire to advance their knowledge and skills. This conference gave them the opportunity to develop new skills, to learn more about the next wave of the Microsoft platform and help them to build the competence and professionalism of the Gulf region."

"Through the conference sessions, developers learnt how to use the power of the Microsoft platform and solutions to develop and deploy new applications that can truly transform businesses,"

Sethi added.

The forum attracted professional developers, software architects, web designers, systems integrators and independent software vendors, and included two technology tracks - ASP.Net 2.0 and Visual Studio to suit different needs. The sessions also included an introduction to Souk Windows, Microsoft's online marketplace for local software developers to exchange and market their solutions, and a session on Arabic software development, in addition to live previews of Windows Vista and the upcoming 2007 Microsoft Office system.