Hamdan opens 34th Gitex Technology Week

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, formally opened Gitex Technology Week on Sunday, as the 34th edition of the leading Information and Communication Technology (ICT) event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (Measa) got underway at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the show’s organiser.

Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied on the opening tour of Gitex Technology Week by Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and CEO, DWTC, as well as a number of leading dignitaries.

Gitex Technology Week 2014, which runs at DWTC from October 12 to 16, brings together more than 100,000 ICT professionals from 150 countries and 3,700 exhibiting companies from 61 countries to share transformational developments across the show’s four knowledge themes: Smart, Cloud, Big Data and Mobility.

"We are honoured that Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has opened Gitex Technology Week," said Helal Saeed Almarri."

As Dubai prepares for its transformation into a Smart City by harnessing the power of technology to drive development and improve civic services, we welcome Sheikh Hamdan’s support for Gitex Technology Week, which once again unites the public and private sectors by bringing the world’s technology community together.

"As a cornerstone of the international ICT landscape and a centre of knowledge exchange and learning - both regionally and beyond - Gitex Technology Week will play an important role in realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the world’s smartest city over the coming three years," added Almarri.

As Dubai's Smart City roll-out is predicted to catalyse an acceleration of Smart City initiatives in other GCC countries, Gitex Technology Week will showcase a pioneering app-based Smart Journey Tour featuring Smart technology product and service insights from more than 26 international companies and Dubai-based government entities.

The Big Data Conference on October 14 will educate on how Big Data can deliver new insights and enhance ROI in a global Big Data market poised to jump from $3.2 billion in 2013 to $15.1 billion by 2020.

On the same day, Cloud Confex returns as the region’s largest integrated cloud exhibition and conference. With the GCC cloud computing market due to post seven-fold growth and expand at a CAGR of 32.8 per cent to reach $668.5 million by 2020, global leaders in data storage and management will present new cloud-based solutions at Gitex.

The Digital Strategies Forum on October 15 will help organisations use mobility to enhance customer interactions.

Global technology company Ericsson, Gitex GulfComms MEA Headline Sponsor, will demonstrate how mobility will enhance daily lives in smart cities.

Gitex Technology Week 2014 will also debut a range of innovative and exciting industry features catering to more than 1,500 delegates and 150 speakers including the Cloud Confex, Big Data Conference, and Digital Strategies Forum.

At Industry Briefings - a key component of this year’s Gitex Trends – speakers will debate tech trends in cutting-edge, sector-specific knowledge platforms; Gitex After 5; the Bloggers Tweet up and Tech Talk Blogger Programme, which will double attendance from regional and international bloggers.

Expanded event features include the official press reception ShowStoppers, online community ConneXions, live streaming of social media, trending topics and tech news via the Content Hub, the 2nd Gitex Hot Stuff Awards recognising top gadgets and Gitex TV - the 53-screen in-house broadcast presence.

Enhanced interactive elements include the GSM Exchange Zone, a platform for the mobile product industry, the C-Level Majlis Lounge for senior executive networking, free Smart Sessions for knowledge-sharing, the ConneXions Lounge and the SME Zone.

In addition to the Gitex Hot Stuff Awards, the Gitex Student Lab will recognise leading students in the field of technology innovation and connect them with industry professionals, while the 2nd Gitex

Cloud Awards will identify and recognise cloud computing excellence in the Middle East and Africa.

On the fringes of Gitex Technology Week, the second edition of the GSMA Mobile 360 Series: Middle East, a dedicated platform for senior executives from the region’s mobile industry, and the fourth edition of InfoComm MEA, the leading showcase of the latest professional audio-visual communications technology in the Middle East and Africa.

On the opening day of October 12, Gitex Technology Week hosted Google for Work, the first time the invite-only event, billed as ‘Unleash Your Creativity – Google Style’, was held in the Middle East. Senior management and C-level executives can learn how to tackle complex problems and opportunities, and foster a culture of innovation within their organisations.

Hamdan instructs public depts to implement happiness index

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and General Supervisor of the project of transforming Dubai into a smart city, has issued directives to public departments and institutions in Dubai to prepare for implementing the initiative of 'Happiness Index', launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in the coming months.

He underlined that the vision of Sheikh Mohammed to transform Dubai into a world's smart city is becoming tangible for population and visitors of Dubai, adding that next years will see the vision implemented.

"We are setting up smart infrastructure that will shift the Emirate to new heights of quality services," he said, stressing the need to unify efforts of all government teams behind the vision of Sheikh Mohammed.

The Crown Prince of Dubai said the public and private sectors should work together to realise satisfaction and happiness of people. "Dubai passes through tremendous transformations and Mohammed bin Rashid wants a team that contributes to making a difference in the Emirate."

Meanwhile, the Higher Committee to transform Dubai into Smart City has commenced implementing the 'Happiness Index' through coordination among the teams.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Chairman of the Dubai Smart City project and Chairman of Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, said the immediate implementation of the Happiness Metre will depend on readiness of infrastructure at all points for population and tourists. 





 

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