STORIT AND SWISS GRC JOIN FORCES TO DELIVER ADVANCED GRC SOLUTIONS ACROSS MENA
StorIT has partnered with Swiss GRC to expand the availability of Swiss GRC’s innovative solutions across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The MENA region is emerging as a critical hub for GRC adoption, driven by rising cybersecurity threats, intricate regulatory frameworks, and a heightened focus on data protection. As organizations in the region recognize the importance of integrated and robust GRC frameworks, the partnership between Swiss GRC and StorIT is poised to meet this growing demand. By leveraging Swiss GRC’s advanced GRC Toolbox— offered through deployment models like On-Premise, Private Cloud, and SaaS— businesses can ensure compliance with local regulatory standards while enhancing
operational resilience. The partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to providing tailored, innovative solutions that address the unique needs of the MENA market.
Suren Vedantham, Managing Director of StorIT, said, “Our partnership with Swiss GRC will enable us to meet the growing need for comprehensive governance and risk management tools in the MENA region, helping businesses optimize their compliance and operational efficiency.”
Besfort Kuqi, CEO of Swiss GRC, said, “Partnering with StorIT allows us to accelerate our reach in the MENA region and bring our cutting-edge GRC technology to a broader market. Together, we will help businesses strengthen their governance frameworks
and manage risks more effectively in today’s complex regulatory environment.”
Rajeev Dutt, General Manager MEA & APAC at Swiss GRC, said, “As regulatory challenges evolve across the MENA region, companies need agile and integrated solutions to stay ahead. Our collaboration with StorIT is a key step in delivering those solutions and supporting businesses through these changes.”
The Swiss GRC platform will equip StorIT’s clients with the tools needed to identify and manage risks effectively, enhancing both corporate accountability and operational resilience. Through its position as a leading IT distributor in the MENA region, StorIT will introduce Swiss GRC’s innovative solutions to a broad client base, driving wider adoption across multiple industries.
MDS SI Group Ranked first in UAE and Among Top 5 in KSA in Leading Analyst Firm’s Worldwide Semiannual Services Tracker
MDS System Integration (SI) Group continues to cement its leadership in the GCC’s IT services industry, with the latest IDC Semiannual Services Tracker 2023H2 ranking the company #1 in the UAE and among the Top 5 in Saudi Arabia for 2023 market share.
Reflecting on this remarkable achievement, Wilson Xavier, IDC, Senior Director Research – ICT Services, META Region, stated: “We believe this recognition highlights MDS SI Group’s continued success and long term commitment in the regional IT and Services market, where it has built significant capabilities across multiple segments, including Data Center & Cloud Infrastructure services, System Integration and Managed services.
We also believe the ranking underscores MDS SI Group’s ability to deliver a comprehensive range of IT services as a regional Digital System Integrator. These capabilities have played a key role in addressing the needs of businesses in the region as they accelerate digital transformation initiatives.”
MDS SI Group holds a commanding 15% share of the IT services market in the UAE, excelling in project-oriented, managed, and support services. The UAE market continues to witness rapid growth, particularly in managed services driven by heightened demand for cloud adoption, GenAI, and data management solutions . MDS SI’s leading position reflects its focus on latest technology trends that address the evolving needs of businesses across industries.
KSA EXCELLENCE
In Saudi Arabia, MDS SI Group ranks among the Top 5 IT service providers, demonstrating strong year-on-year growth of 18% in managed services, particularly in data center infrastructure , managed services , and IT outsourcing, being propelled by the government’s Vision 2030 initiatives, which prioritize cloud technologies, AI, and digital transformation
A STRONG REGIONAL FOOTPRINT
MDS SI Group continues to lead the GCC’s project-oriented services market, with systems integration as a key driver of growth. By expanding its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, MDS SI Group is poised to maintain its competitive edge and continue delivering innovative solutions that help clients thrive in an increasingly digital and data-driven business landscape.
To further solidify its market leadership, MDS SI Group has adopted the strategy of acquiring companies in the past few years that offer AI infrastructure solutions, Data & AI practices, advanced analytics and business intelligence (BI) solutions, and managed services. These acquisitions enhance the group’s capabilities, allowing MDS SI to offer a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that cater to the evolving demands of its clients.
Sami Abi Esber, President of MDS SI Group, commented on the recognition saying, “We are proud to be ranked as the #1 IT services provider in the UAE
and among the Top 5 in Saudi Arabia. This acknowledgment, coupled with our 20 consecutive years of leadership across the GCC, including Qatar, Oman, Jordan, and Iraq, demonstrates our commitment to excellence. By continuing to invest in latest technologies solutions, and managed services we help our clients succeed in an increasingly digital world.”
SAMI ABI ESBER President of MDS SI Group
Part of Midis Group
ITHR leads the Charge in HR Tech Innovation at GITEX 2024
SRIJIT NAIR Chief Executive Officer, ITHR Technologies Consulting
WHAT IS THE MAIN THEME OF YOUR PARTICIPATION AT GITEX THIS YEAR?
ITHR’s core theme at GITEX this year focuses on Innovation in HR Tech and adding value to the digital transformation journey. As an HR outsourcing and technology consulting company, we are committed to showcasing how we harness advanced digital solutions to transform workforce management, talent acquisition, and overall business operations.
HOW ARE YOU LEVERAGING AI TECHNOLOGIES TO STREAMLINE HR PROCESSES?
Our internally developed HRMS platform, TOTALHRM, supports various HR tasks using AI, including:
• Automated Recruitment – AI matches candidates to roles, reducing manual work and improving the hiring process.
• Predictive Workforce Planning – Analyzes data to enhance workforce forecasting and resource allocation.
• Employee Engagement – AI-powered chatbots provide real-time HR support, improving employee experience.
• Performance Management – Tracks performance and recommends personalized development plans, helping organizations define training and development programs.
• Retention Strategies – Predicts turnover risks, enabling proactive retention efforts.
• Emotional Well-being – AI-driven tools monitor employee mental health through surveys, feedback, and behavioral patterns.
This tool will be launched in the UAE soon.
HOW DO YOU SEE AI EVOLVING IN THE HR SPACE, AND WHAT EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES OR TRENDS DO YOU BELIEVE WILL FURTHER ENHANCE HR SERVICES?
In addition to the previous response, we are also working on the following integrations for our solution:
• Diversity and Inclusion – AI will help eliminate bias in hiring and performance reviews, promoting equity.
• VR/AR in Training – AI-powered learning
tools for employee training. We have a program based on Greek mythology for team engagement, using game-based learning.
HOW DO YOU APPROACH STRATEGIC IT PLANNING TO ALIGN TECHNOLOGY WITH YOUR CLIENTS’ BUSINESS GOALS?
We start by understanding the customer’s needs, pain points, user feedback, budget, and vision. Based on these parameters, we suggest the most suitable solutions and provide a comparative analysis, helping clients decide on their digital transformation strategy that best suits their business needs.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOUR OFFERINGS REMAIN EFFECTIVE IN THE CONSTANTLY CHANGING BUSINESS LANDSCAPE?
We ensure continuous learning, gather regular feedback, and conduct reviews. We remain agile, suggest or develop scalable solutions, maintain a customer-centric approach, and most importantly, focus on delivering value for investment through competitive pricing.
Hytera revolutionizes Mobile Workforce
Communication with the launch of the P5 Series at GITEX Global 2024
Hytera Communications is set to unveil its highly anticipated P5 Series Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) radios, including the P50 and P50 Pro, at GITEX GLOBAL 2024 in Dubai. Engineered to meet the evolving needs of mobile workforces, the P5 Series delivers an unrivaled combination of durability, simplicity, and performance, making it the perfect group communication solution for sectors such as security, logistics, transportation, and other industries critical to the rapidly growing economies in the Gulf region.
The P50 & P50 Pro Series integrates seamlessly with the Hytera HyTalk platform, forming a robust communication ecosystem that empowers businesses to manage mobile teams with greater efficiency. This synergy delivers real-time push-to-talk (PTT) communication,
team coordination, and rapid task response, backed by industry-leading security features. For industries that rely on dispersed teams, like security firms, construction, and logistics, the P5 Series ensures uninterrupted communication, ultimately improving workplace safety, operational efficiency, and workforce productivity.
Stanley Song, Vice President of Hytera, said, “Mobile workforces, especially in industries like security and logistics, play a pivotal role in ensuring safety and efficiency across the Gulf region’s dynamic urban and industrial landscapes. With the launch of the P5 Series, we introduce a communication tool that not only meets the demands of these industries but elevates their ability to respond quickly and effectively in any situation.”
Designed to withstand the most
demanding environments, the P5 Series PoC radios boast an IP68 rating, ensuring full dustproof and waterproof protection. The rugged design includes extensively tested interfaces, such as a durable 9-pin audio connector and waterproof Type-C port, providing long-lasting reliability in any condition. These radios are built for users who need dependable tools in extreme environments, from construction sites to remote industrial facilities.
GITEX Global 2024: Juniper Networks Drives Business Success with AI-Native Networking
Juniper Networks® has announced its participation in GITEX Global 2024. At the world’s largest tech and AI event exploring the future AI economy, Juniper will demonstrate how organisations can leverage the industry’s first AI-Native Networking Platform to build smarter, more efficient networks.
To assure the best operator and enduser experiences, Juniper’s solutions consistently enable critical connections across sectors such as education, public services, healthcare, retail and secure banking.
The market for AI moves rapidly. Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries alone, AI is estimated to create a real value of up to US $150 billion across all sectors of their economies. Generative AI has quickly transitioned from R&D to a boardroom imperative across industries. This drives increased investment in IT infrastructure, particularly the fast, flexible data centre networks required for AI training and inference. Customers need to have confidence that, regardless of the
scale or complexity, their connectivity will function seamlessly and securely, reducing the risk of human error and enabling an optimised, personalised experience for every user.
“Juniper’s AI-Native Network Platform provides the assurance that every connection is reliable, measurable and secure for any device, user, application, or asset in the cloud-first open ecosystem. At GITEX Global 2024 Juniper will showcase how our solutions meet customer demands, positioning us as a leader in delivering future-ready, highperformance networks designed for AIdriven business environments,” said, Yarob Sakhnini, Vice President, Emerging Markets, EMEA at Juniper Networks Juniper Networks media spokespeople will be available at GITEX Global 2024 to discuss the significant operational and business benefits that the company’s innovative solutions and services can provide to organisations in the Middle East and beyond. Join them at the Dubai World Trade Center from October 14th to 18th in H5, H5-B30.
YAROB SAKHNINI
Vice President, Emerging Markets, EMEA at Juniper Networks
emt Distribution, UAE Cyber Security Council, and Dubai World Trade Centre Unveils Cyber Escape Room at GITEX 2024
emt Distribution, in partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council and the Dubai World Trade Centre, is excited to announce the launch of the innovative Cyber Escape Room at GITEX 2024. This highly anticipated event brings an interactive cybersecurity challenge to one of the world’s leading tech exhibitions, fostering skill development and collaboration in a thrilling, immersive environment.
Hosted at the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre, the emt Cyber Escape Room is designed to merge cybersecurity awareness with hands-on experiences. Participants will be faced with real-world digital puzzles and cyber threat simulations, offering an exciting yet educational opportunity to test their problem-solving and teamwork abilities.
Mo Mobasseri, CEO of emt Distribution, said: ‘’After the huge success we experienced during GISEC2024, we are happy to bring back the emt Cyber Escape Room at GITEX Global 2024, in collaboration with the World Trade Centre and the UAE Cyber Security Council.
“This immersive experience not only challenges participants to solve complex cybersecurity scenarios but also fosters collaboration and peer-to-peer learning in an engaging, dynamic environment”
Aimed at both seasoned professionals and newcomers, the Cyber Escape Room presents participants with dynamic, real-time cyber scenarios. Teams will have 20 minutes to solve a series of critical challenges, all while navigating simulated cyber threats. This initiative is set to be a key highlight of GITEX 2024, bringing together
cybersecurity enthusiasts, industry professionals, and tech innovators. H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in enhancing cybersecurity resilience: “The individual is the bulwark of defence against attacks, therefore, there is an urgent need to enhance awareness campaigns about the cybersecurity risks and protective measures that help in tackling the various threats.”
HPE Unveils AI-Powered Holographic Avatar of CEO Antonio Neri at GITEX Global 2024
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is set to make waves at GITEX Global 2024 with the introduction of an innovative AI-powered holographic avatar of President and CEO Antonio Neri, affectionately named Antonio Nearly. This groundbreaking technology showcases the power of AI at scale, allowing attendees to engage in realtime conversations with the avatar, which looks and sounds just like Neri.
Enabled by Proto, the world’s first and only holographic communications platform, Antonio Nearly stands an impressive 7 feet tall. This life-size hologram not only represents a leap forward in digital communication but also exemplifies HPE’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to transform business interactions.
Attendees will have the unique opportunity to experience firsthand how AI and holography can enhance engagement and collaboration. HPE invites all participants at GITEX Global 2024 to explore the future of communication and discover the potential of AI-driven solutions.
HPE Global CEO’s AI avatar marks innovation at GITEX 2024
GITEX Global 2024, Expand North Star: SAP showcases technology solutions to drive growth
Global technology company SAP is showcasing innovative solutions to drive growth at this week’s Expand North Star, the world’s largest startup and investor connector event held under the umbrella of GITEX Global in Dubai. The GROW with SAP program empowers scaleups with cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, reducing costs by up to 20% and improving payables management by 12%. The program offers six months’ worth of complimentary cloud solutions, access to a vast customer network, PR and marketing support, and rapid implementations.
Cloudera Showcases Next-Generation AI and Data Solutions at GITEX Global Dubai 2024
Cloudera is showcasingW its latest advancements at GITEX Global Dubai 2024, the Middle East’s premier technology event. With enterprises in the region rapidly embracing cloud and AI technologies, Cloudera is set to spotlight innovations designed to meet the unique demands of Middle Eastern businesses seeking scalable, secure, and efficient solutions for data management and AIdriven digital transformation.
As the digital economy in the region expands, organizations are turning to hybrid cloud environments to boost productivity and ensure regulatory compliance. A recent Cloudera study found that 71% of Middle Eastern organizations currently use public cloud services, with 86% planning to migrate more data to the cloud in the coming years, driven by the demand for flexibility, data sovereignty, and security.
At GITEX Global 2024, Cloudera will present its cutting-edge solutions, including the newly launched Cloudera AI Inference Service, as part of the NVIDIA AI Enterprise platform. This service accelerates the deployment and management of large-scale AI models by up to 36x, providing enterprises with a secure, scalable, and high-performance foundation to advance GenAI from pilot stages to full-scale production.
Cloudera will showcase several key innovations at GITEX:
Vice President
• Cloudera AI Inference: Utilizing NVIDIA’s Tensor Core GPUs, this solution delivers 4x throughput over traditional CPUs for large language models, accelerating the development of virtual assistants, chatbots, and natural language processing.
• True Hybrid Cloud Vision: Cloudera promotes a unified data, analytics, and AI platform for seamless data and workload movement between on-premises and cloud environments, ensuring security and compliance.
• Open Data Lakehouse Architecture: This architecture combines the flexibility of data lakes with the performance of data warehouses, supporting hybrid and multi-cloud environments for efficient data management.
• Enhanced Security and Governance: Cloudera emphasizes privacy with enterprise-grade features such as access control and auditing, ensuring secure deployment of data and AI models.
Karim Azar, Regional Vice President of Middle East, Turkey & Africa at Cloudera, said, “Our participation in GITEX 2024 underlines our commitment to helping regional enterprises harness the full potential of their data with our hybrid data platform, AI capabilities, and scalable cloud technologies.”
KARIM AZAR
Regional
of Middle East, Turkey & Africa at Cloudera
Ericsson and e& UAE first to implement 5G Advanced time-critical communication solution in Middle East and Africa
Ericsson and e& United Arab Emirates has announced the successful implementation of Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S), a time-critical communication technology, in a 5G commercial network for the first time in the Middle East and Africa.
The technology was demonstrated through a cloud gaming showcase conducted on e& UAE’s 5G Standalone commercial network on the sidelines of GITEX Global 2024, where L4S resulted in reducing the latency to less than half and perfectly maintaining it within a predefined range. This allowed e& UAE to deliver consistent low-latency connectivity that ensures an exceptional, lag-free experience for live online cloud gamers.
L4S is one of several essential network capabilities that can be
used for differentiated connectivity to drive scalable and sustainable service differentiation. Differentiated connectivity is the ability to program the 5G network end-toend to drive different levels of user experience, meeting diverse performance-level needs from consumer and enterprise applications.
The introduction of L4S time-critical communication technology marks a significant milestone in e& UAE’s journey towards 5G Advanced, where it will enable e& UAE to enrich its 5G capabilities, catering to timesensitive use cases in industrial control and mobility automation.
Marwan Bin Shakar, Senior Vice President Access Network Development from e& UAE, said, “The successful deployment of L4S time-critical communication technology with Ericsson in Middle East
Marwan Bin Shakar, Senior Vice President Access Network Development from e& UAE and Ekow Nelson, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit for e& at Ericsson Middle East and Africa
and Africa strengthens e& UAE’s position as a pioneer in advancing 5G capabilities in the region.”
GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star set to accelerate world’s AI economy with market projected to reach $2.7 trillion by 2032
GITEX GLOBAL 2024 will present its most international edition with record-breaking participation from Europe, Asia, and Latin America
GITEX GLOBAL takes centre stage in the UAE with this year’s 44th edition destined to redefine the world’s digital economy and AI ecosystem.
Held at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 14-18 October, the incomparable
international showpiece more influential than ever this time around – presenting an expanded events programme that transforms the UAE into an AI universe epicentre.
Under the theme “Global Collaboration to Forge a Future AI
Economy”, GITEX GLOBAL 2024 welcomes the world’s largest technology enterprises alongside governments, investors, experts, startups, academia, and researchers.
Expand North Star, the world’s largest startup and investment show, runs concurrently at Dubai Harbour from 13-16 October – hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and organised by DWTC.
With over 6,500 exhibiting companies, 1,800 startups, and 1,200 investors from more than 180 countries participating across 38 halls of innovation and business opportunities, these blockbuster events will see the UAE “strategically propel the next generation of AI-driven technologies”.
Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of DWTC, the organiser of GITEX GLOBAL
and Expand North Star, said: “At GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai, we shall close the year with significant manoeuvres from our tech community by doubling down on global collaborations and intensive engagements amongst all involved. Through these efforts, we shall forge competitive advantages in the race towards regional and international digital supremacy.
Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group PJSC and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, said, “Dubai’s pro-innovation frameworks are the bedrock of tech advancements that serve a greater purpose. GITEX GLOBAL is a springboard to unlock this potential, and as the region’s leading tech hub, Dubai Internet City has been a proud partner for decades in its mission towards a brighter future.”
