Microsoft is announcing the general availability of the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio in the United Arab Emirates(UAE). The devices are designed to promote innovation, enhance productivity and ensure safety and security. Organizations in the UAE will be able to purchase the new Microsoft Surface devices from authorized Microsoft device partners.
Launched last year, the company introduced the Surface Laptop Studio as a replacement to the Surface Book line. Microsoft also announced the latest model of its 2-in-1 devices the Surface Pro 8. With the Laptop Studio starting at $1599.99 and $1099.99 for the Pro 8.
Speaking about the devices coming to the UAE market, Business Group Director, Modern Work with Surface Microsoft UAE, Laura McDonald, notes “we’re excited to see organizations in the UAE flourish with these new innovations and unlock the potential of their workforce“.
She adds that with the introduction of the new Surface devices, the modern-day hybrid workplace will benefit the most. From secure technology that accelerates changes and enhances the entire work experience to take productivity to the next level.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 comes powered by Windows 11 and runs on an 11th-generation Intel CPU which lets open any professional Surface Pro drawing app. Sports a 13-inch 120Hz display, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a removable SSD. It has a vibrant display with a sharp webcam and is very slim and light. Click to read and check out the full device review on Pro 8.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
The 14.4″ Surface Laptop Studio runs on the latest quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core H Series processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU. It has a screen resolution of 2400 x 1600 and 201 PPI maintaining the famous 3:2 aspect ratio. 16GB up to 32GB of RAM and removable SSD storage starting from 256GB up to 2TB. Battery life estimations show up to 19 hours of typical device usage. Click to see the full device specifications here. And check out the unboxing, first impression, and review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.
With the launch of the devices in the UAE, we can expect to see them in the Egypt and South Africa markets shortly. I expect to see them also launch by the end of April 2022.
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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 signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Texas A&M University, Qatar, to empower its engineering students with future-ready skills. The partnership with the Qatar Foundation partner university will provide students with the tools and experiences necessary to drive innovation and succeed in the workforce. As part of the agreement, the university will leverage Microsoft tools and platforms to achieve their common goal.
Texas A&M will pilot activities such as the Microsoft Learn, Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Community and Microsoft Azure for Students in the 2021-2022 academic year. Microsoft Learn provides self-paced, digital learning resources to build skills and a foundational understanding of technology. Microsoft Learn will complement classroom learning and study materials. Students will get to join the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Community which will help students learn and lead. By giving them access to free tools, events and activities and unlocking exclusive benefits through learning. Through Microsoft Azure for Students, students will gain hands-on experience with Microsoft technologies to start building apps, explore artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.
The faculty and teaching staff at Texas A&M University, Qatar, will also have access to Azure Development Tools for teaching. This will give them access to tools commonly used in STEM programs. It will also give them the opportunity to participate in the Microsoft Learn for Educators Institution Program, which gives eligible educators access to additional teaching and learning benefits.
“Texas A&M is proud to partner with Microsoft as we work together to educate engineering leaders in Qatar. We are grateful to share this vision with Microsoft and we look forward to the future successes of this partnership. Especially of our graduates says Dr. César Octavio Malavé, Dean Texas A&M.
Our partnership with Texas A&M at Qatar comes in line with our commitment to provide higher education institutions in Qatar with the resources and tools needed to build the next-generation workforce that will accelerate the country’s transition into a knowledge-based economy and innovation hub.
Lana Khalaf, country manager of Microsoft Qatar
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GITEX Global 2021 is underway in Dubai and Microsoft is taking the opportunity to showcase its latest technological innovations in the areas of the future of work and sustainable smart cities. Alongside partners such as Schneider Electric, AVEVA, Digital Okta, Predica, Cloud 4C, Crayon, Rackspace, Liferay, TechVista, Intertec and Jedox.
Microsoft’s theme at GITEX Global 2021 is creating a “bolder digital future together”, with the company mapping out its vision for a more sustainable future. The event is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre till the 21st of October 2021.
few things are more pressing today than solving the issue of climate change
Microsoft is challenging everyone to imagine a more sustainable future this year says Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE. He notes that the company is constantly striving to find solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. He adds that few things are more pressing today than solving the issue of climate change.
“We have partnered with Schneider Electric, to bring Dubai’s sustainability vision to life. Our collaboration, running on Azure and powered by the Microsoft Cloud demonstrates how a combination of cutting-edge technologies can translate large amounts of data into actionable, sustainability-focused outcomes. This will turn urban environments from being part of the climate problem into becoming part of the solution. Together with our partners, we look forward to showcasing some of the ground-breaking innovations which will empower our customers to thrive in the digital economy and hybrid work environment.”
Sayed Hashish
You can find Microsoft and Microsoft partners on the event floor at Hall 7, dubbed the Microsoft hub. It houses an experiential center where you can have a hands-on with their products and solutions. Such as the Sustainable Smart City Command Center demo, Microsoft Teams, Viva Connections, Xbox, Windows 11 and Surface laptops. It also features a talk area for discussions, keynotes and workshops.
Microsoft says GITEX delegates will be able to try out its future of work products and solutions that allows employees to work, learn, and play under new flexible relationships with employers, all fuelled by the intelligent cloud. The company will also show how a balance can be struck between in-person and digital collaboration.
Last year the company focused on showcasing how it supports sustainable farming using AI, Edge and IoT,
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Microsoft United Arab Emirates (UAE) lights up the tallest building in the world to announce the launch of Windows 11. The company did this on the eve of the official release date to draw attention to the announcement. The iconic building was covered in blue, the new bloom wallpaper, Windows logo and Windows 11 inscription.
It’s a monumental day for Windows fans, and the Burj Khalifa is helping us celebrate #Windows11 in a big way.
Windows 11 is official today October 5th with Microsoft making it generally available to the public. However, Microsoft will use a measured and phased rollout process to bring it to existing devices that meet the upgrade requirements. Microsoft says it expects all eligible Windows 10 devices to get the upgrade by mid-2022. So you don’t have to worry if it doesn’t immediately show up in Windows update in settings.
As the day becomes October 5 in each time zone around the world, availability of Windows 11 begins through a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs.
Update: 2:47 pm – updated to correct the wallpaper name from glow to bloom.
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The Central Agency for Information Technology Agency (CAIT), Kuwait, is partnering with Microsoft to launch a training program for a group of Kuwaiti leaders from the government sector. To raise the level of knowledge and enhance confidence in artificial intelligence technologies to build a smart government. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Leaders in Government Sector program will help leaders maximise the use of smart technologies.
Microsoft will design the training with Insead College, topics include an introduction to artificial intelligence technologies. Others are strategies to pursue in the government sector by leveraging these technologies. And the optimal use of AI in a way that ensures improved life and services for citizens and residents.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with Microsoft to maximize the use of smart technologies that will enable government leaders to take their leading place in the digital transformation plan and achieve its goals,” says Haya Al Wadani, Director General of the Central Information Technology Agency. Enhancing knowledge and trust is a necessary step to seize the opportunities offered by smart technologies. This unique program comes to this step, he adds.”
“Artificial intelligence is one of the most prominent technologies of our time that has brought about significant changes in our lives, notes Aladdin Karim, General Manager of Microsoft Kuwait. The CAIT has always been a leader in adopting the latest means that improve the performance of government agencies. And prepare leaders for the era of artificial intelligence.”
“As part of a series of previous partnerships, we are committed to supporting them to achieve a digital transformation agenda, looking ahead and providing the best services to citizens by harnessing our expertise in dealing with smart technologies.”
Aladdin Karim, General Manager Microsoft Kuwait
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