EDITOR’S QUESTION
WHAT ICT TRENDS
AND DEVELOPMENTS
DO YOU SEE
DOMINATING
DISCUSSION AT
GITEX 2016?
T
he Middle East has emerged
as a leader in the $3.8 trillion
global digital economy. The
UAE is driving this world of technology
with game-changing initiatives such as
the first fully 3D printed office building
and the Dubai Future Endowment
Fund, which dedicates AED one billion
to support innovative projects in the
Emirate.
With cutting-edge technology at
the heart of this global city, Dubai
has inarguably become the world’s
gateway for tech transformation.
As we enter a future that sees six
billion devices connected by 2018,
the globe will look to the exhibitors,
entrepreneurs and experts attending
GITEX Technology Week to lead the
way to a more networked world. The
region’s ICT spend is growing and 40
per cent of that growth comes from
enterprise corporations. With nearly
22,000 CXOs from top corporations
attending the show, GITEX is a leader
in strengthening the global digital
economy.
The Middle East IT spend itself is set to
reach $212.9 billion in 2016, a 37%
www.intelligentcio.com
increase from the previous year, which
puts GITEX at the centre of a thriving
global ICT economy.
The Middle East undoubtedly has its
own ‘pain points’ when it comes to
technology and the implementation
of same. What has been a clear and
defined talking point at GITEX over the
past five years has been the adoption
of cloud and the security issues that
encompass its adoption. The priva te
sector will always be more proactive
in the transfer to new technologies
(because of cost factors and the
nimbleness of operations); what
remains is the cautious approach of
the public sector.
With the age digitisation transforming
everything from network infrastructure,
to data centre storage, security will
undoubtedly dominate at this year’s
show. With this in mind we have taken
some opinions from the industry’s
front runners and what they forecast
as dominating discussion points across
the conference.
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