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.
“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.”
[jetpack_subscription_form show_subscribers_total=”false” button_on_newline=”false” submit_button_text=”Subscribe to get updates right in your inbox” custom_font_size=”16px” custom_border_radius=”0″ custom_border_weight=”1″ custom_padding=”15″ custom_spacing=”10″ submit_button_classes=”” email_field_classes=”” show_only_email_and_button=”true” success_message=”Success! An email was just sent to confirm your subscription. Please find the email now and click 'Confirm Follow' to start subscribing.”]
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.
[jetpack_subscription_form subscribe_placeholder=”Enter your email address” show_subscribers_total=”false” button_on_newline=”false” submit_button_text=”Hi, <br>sign up so you can get the latest <br>in breaking news, reviews, <br>opinions, events,<br> opportunities and <br>community updates right <br>in your inbox. ” custom_font_size=”16px” custom_border_radius=”0″ custom_border_weight=”1″ custom_padding=”15″ custom_spacing=”10″ submit_button_classes=”” email_field_classes=”” show_only_email_and_button=”true”]
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
[jetpack_subscription_form subscribe_placeholder=”Enter your email address” show_subscribers_total=”false” button_on_newline=”false” submit_button_text=”Hi, sign up so you can get the latest in breaking news, reviews, opinions, events, opportunities and community updates right in your inbox. ” custom_font_size=”16px” custom_border_radius=”0″ custom_border_weight=”1″ custom_padding=”15″ custom_spacing=”10″ submit_button_classes=”” email_field_classes=”” show_only_email_and_button=”true”]
Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
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,
[jetpack_subscription_form subscribe_placeholder=”Enter your email address” show_subscribers_total=”false” button_on_newline=”false” submit_button_text=”Hi, sign up so you can get the latest in breaking news, reviews, opinions, events, opportunities and community updates right in your inbox. ” custom_font_size=”16px” custom_border_radius=”0″ custom_border_weight=”1″ custom_padding=”15″ custom_spacing=”10″ submit_button_classes=”” email_field_classes=”” show_only_email_and_button=”true”]
Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
15 startups will participate in the first cohort of the Microsoft GrowthX Accelerator program. They will work to co-create technology solutions with partners such as Etihad Airways, Unilever, Flow, IKEA, KPMG and Akbank. The startups will spend 12-weeks of virtual and physical workshops and training in the United Arab Emirates. Thanks to Microsoft for Startups’ partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).
Startups are now in the driver’s seat to fulfilling their potential says Roberto Croci, Managing Director, Microsoft for Startups, MEA. “Alongside our partners, we look forward to enabling our first cohort of B2B startups to compete at the highest level. And in hopes of transforming the region into a globally leading hub for technology and entrepreneurship.”
The accelerator program is designed to bridge the gap between corporates and B2B startups across the Middle East and Africa. By connecting startups with large corporations with specific problem statements they are looking to solve. The 12-week program will empower the B2B startups with technology, mentoring and market access.
GrowthX Accelerator startups
Here are the 15 startups from across the Middle East and Africa region participating in the Microsoft GrowthX Accelerator program.
Spitch – a global provider of B2B and B2C Conversational AI solutions.
Gener8 – enables users to control and be rewarded from their own data.
Poltio – helps the world’s top brands engage and learn from their users with interactive content.
Getbee – an ecommerce platform that engages with customers on a more human and immersive level.
OPLOG – a pioneer in e-logistics, simplifying the cost, time and resources for supply chain operations.
Fero – shaping the future of digital freight with technology to automate the logistics industry,
Urbantz – a SaaS solution to transform last mile delivery and logistics across industries.
Hi55 – a digital payroll scheme to empower individuals and businesses with cashflow.
Nym Card – provides dynamic and secure building blocks for building fast and easy card programs.
Artiwise – an AI and NLP startup that provides cloud-based analytics solutions to enterprises.
B2Brain – delivers tailored analytics to automate research and intelligence to improve conversations.
Alpha Sense – an intelligence platform that helps businesses make data-driven decisions.
NexDegree –enables brick & mortar retail stores to improve customer experience and sales.
Udentify – reduces the need for manmade market research, utilizing body tracking technologies.
[jetpack_subscription_form subscribe_placeholder=”Enter your email address” show_subscribers_total=”false” button_on_newline=”false” submit_button_text=”Hi, sign up so you can get the latest in breaking news, reviews, opinions, events, opportunities and community updates right in your inbox. ” custom_font_size=”16px” custom_border_radius=”0″ custom_border_weight=”1″ custom_padding=”15″ custom_spacing=”10″ submit_button_classes=”” email_field_classes=”” show_only_email_and_button=”true”]
Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
