Azure Availability Zones now generally available in Microsoft UAE datacenters

Azure Availability Zones now generally available in Microsoft UAE datacenters

Microsoft is announcing the general availability of Azure Availability Zones in its United Arab Emirates(UAE) datacenters in Dubai. The investment will enhance the competitiveness of UAE businesses through the vital provision of business continuity and disaster recovery solutions. This reinforces Microsoft’s commitment to the UAE government, its business community, and its population.

Azure Availability Zones will build on the capabilities and benefits offered through Microsoft’s enterprise-grade datacenters in Dubai which began operations in June 2019. Organizations already using the zones in the UAE include Emirates Group, Commercial Bank of Dubai, and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Microsoft Azure Availability ZonesUAE Dubai

With the advent of the always-on economy, uptime and continuous access to critical data, applications and workloads have become front-of-mind concerns for the region’s technology stakeholders,” said Naim Yazbeck, General Manager, Microsoft UAE.

As businesses move forward amid increased industry upheavals and competition from market disrupters, competitiveness hinges on the ability to remain operational even as external issues destabilise markets and supply chains. Backups alone will not deliver such capabilities. Rapid recovery requires strategy-focused infrastructure and solutions to work effectively. That is what Azure Availability Zones delivers.”

Naim Yazbeck

Microsoft notes the launch of the zones shows its readiness to form the backbone of organizations’ futureproofing programs.

The new availability zones will allow us to enhance the way we use Microsoft Cloud, says Srinivasan Sampath, Acting Group CTO of First Abu Dhabi Bank. Offering us a greater level of data security, resilience and flexibility. Which in turn, will support our customer-centric ethos, and allow us to provide greater benefits for our clients.”

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ETIHAD to achieve net-zero sustainability goals with Microsoft tech

ETIHAD to achieve net-zero sustainability goals with Microsoft tech

net-zero ETIHAD Microsoft

Etihad Airways plans to meet net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and is looking to use Microsoft technology. The national carrier of the United Arab Emirates is announcing a new partnership with Microsoft to leverage its tools and technologies to advance its sustainability goals.

The companies will work together to use advanced analytics and AI to measure and benchmark Etihad’s environmental footprint. This will allow the business to implement and assess carbon efficiency savings across its business operations. The collaboration will focus on the implementation of technologies that will turn data into actionable insights. Unlocking scenarios and use cases that will help Etihad reduce its carbon footprint and meet the net-zero goal.

“Innovation and sustainability are at the core of our business. Our continued partnership with Microsoft will support us in meeting our sustainability goals to reduce carbon emissions. Both in the air through operational efficiencies, and on the ground. Through improvements in our back-office processes and technology infrastructure,” said Tony Douglas, Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group. 

“Etihad is aligned with the UAE’s mission to conserve and preserve our environment for generations to come and we have made significant progress over the last two years towards our ‘net-zero carbon emissions by 2050’ goal with our sustainability portfolio. We look forward to working closely with Microsoft to enhance these developments.”

Tony Douglas

Etihad and Microsoft have also committed to jointly identifying opportunities for collaboration. To achieve both organisations’ sustainability goals while building thought-leadership and further partnerships with organisations in the UAE and the region. This will further drive the national sustainability agenda and build a supportive technology ecosystem. That will allow organisations of all sizes to take carbon reduction measures based on data-driven insights.

“We are aligned with the UAE’s long-term sustainability goals and practices to accelerate growth responsibly. While fulfilling the nation’s ambitious objectives,” said Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE. 

“For more than a decade, Microsoft has been investing to reduce environmental impact while supporting the digital transformation of organisations around the world through cloud services. The commitments and investments we make are important steps in reducing our own environmental impact. But we recognize that the opportunity for positive change is greatest by empowering customers and partners to achieve their own sustainability goals. Therefore, this partnership with Etihad is incredibly exciting. By empowering more and more organizations with the right insights, we will be able to reach critical mass to reduce carbon emissions on a significant scale.”

Microsoft and Etihad Airways announced the first-ever in-house AI Academy in the Middle East earlier this year. The Etihad AI academy powered by Microsoft will look to revolutionise the way the airline serves its customers

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Microsoft to recruit 15 startups in the GrowthX Accelerator program, applications open!

Microsoft to recruit 15 startups in the GrowthX Accelerator program, applications open!

GrowthX Accelerator Microsoft UAE

Microsoft is announcing that applications for its GrowthX Accelerator Program is now open to startups with ground-breaking solutions. The program under Microsoft for Startups initiative hopes to bridge the gap between corporates with challenges and startups with solutions.

It is part of a larger strategic partnership between Microsoft and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). To accelerate opportunities in the emirate for startups. The program will empower B2B startups with technology, mentoring and market access.

The GrowthX Accelerator Program will include 12-weeks of virtual and physical workshops and training. Mentorship from domain experts, technical support and guidance and social and alumni events. As well as a series of “demo days” and networking events. Where startups can showcase their visions to both venture capitalists and Microsoft’s regional customers.

Startups are essential to any economy. They catalyse innovation and new technologies that drive tremendous impact for all. Abu Dhabi is focused on creating a nurturing environment for startups and acting as a launchpad for them to bring fresh ideas to life here, make the most of opportunities across the region and scale globally,” said H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director General of ADIO.
“As the founding partner of the GrowthX Accelerator, we are excited to work with Microsoft to unlock Abu Dhabi and the region’s rich economic potential. And empower these homegrown innovators with the tools they need in order to succeed in the new digital economy.”

Kindly click here to apply now or find out more about the Microsoft for Startups GrowthX Accelerator program. Application ends on the 7th of July 2021 with the cohort starting August to November 2021.

Across the region, Microsoft customers across all industries and sizes are hungry for innovative solutions that will empower them to compete in what is now a truly global digital economy,” says Roberto Croci, Managing Director, Microsoft for Startups, MEA.

The global Microsoft for Startups program was created to support the creators of these solutions and connect them with the technology and purposeful partnerships they need to succeed. Our work with Abu Dhabi Investment Office on the GrowthX Accelerator program will lay important groundwork for that vision in the region by working to transform Abu Dhabi and the region into a global technology and entrepreneurship hub.

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Microsoft showcases AI, IoT tech supporting sustainable farming at 40th GITEX Technology Week

Microsoft showcases AI, IoT tech supporting sustainable farming at 40th GITEX Technology Week

sustainable farming at 40th GITEX Technology Week Microsoft Azure FarmBeats

Microsoft UAE is showcasing how it supports sustainable farming with AI and IoT at 40th GITEX Technology Week in Dubai.

Using AI, Edge and IoT, Microsoft’s agricultural solution FarmBeats built on Azure enables data-driven farming to maximize agricultural output.

This data-driven farming entails using data visualizations, analytics and machine learning. The results; it creates automated recommendations on water usage and soil quality. That the company notes help during challenging conditions.

This is part of Microsoft’s AI for good global initiative to support sustainable farming practices and contribute to food security.

Located at H6-D20, Hall 6, a Microsoft Hub has been set up to offer attendees an opportunity to discover and experience Microsoft technology and innovations.

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sustainable farming at 40th GITEX Technology Week Microsoft Azure FarmBeats
Sayed Hashish, GM Microsoft UAE showing Microsoft technology innovations at the Microsoft Hub at GITEX Technology Week 2020.

Microsoft notes that governments are now reimagining a more positive world. As such the company is investing alongside them into critical technological infrastructure to solve pressing challenges.

Speaking to the media, Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE notes there will be a need to feed nine to ten billion people by 2050. “This will require a significant increase in food production. However, there is a limited amount of additional arable land, and water levels have also been receding. Cloud technology may prove crucial to address this agricultural challenge,” he continues.

Alef Education, Microsoft partner to redefine the classroom experience

Alef Education, Microsoft partner to redefine the classroom experience

EdTech company Alef Education, is collaborating with Microsoft to drive a better learning and classroom experience in the gulf region.

Alef Education
signing of MoU

The companies signed a MoU that will see Alef integrate its learning platform with Microsoft Office 365 and Teams. As well as have its platform run on the middle east Microsoft Azure datacenter.

Microsoft says the partnership sets out a framework for collaboration and the implementation of product and services. Both companies will work on a roadmap for development, case studies and training programs. To support Alef Education’s innovative digital learning program regionally and to scale the solutions globally.

Sayed Hashish, Microsoft UAE General Manager signed the MoU on behalf of Microsoft. He said in preparing the young for the new global digital economy, teachers will need the latest tools to bring the classroom to life.

Our work with Alef Education will allow their platform to empower educators to achieve more through the intelligent cloud. Students will be equipped with skill to go out into the world to be innovators, job creators and economy builders.

The collaboration will focus on empowering students, teachers and school leaders. To experience a seamless interaction between the Alef platform and Microsoft product and services, Microsoft says.

Our strategic partnership with Microsoft will provide our learners and teachers with leading edge technology. Alef Education CEO Geoffrey Alphonso, shared.

He also added;

with an established technology giant like Microsoft, we feel that this is just the beginning to providing complementary technology tools and hardware that will unify and enhance the user experience for our learner ecosystem. We are looking forward to collaborate and join forces on other fronts that relate to AI, Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics and Educational Research.”