Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 52 | Page 48

COUNTRY FOCUS: UAE Home to Al Maktoum International Airport and the World Expo 2020, Dubai South has been making its mark as a vibrant business hub in the UAE. Unsurprisingly, technology is at the heart of its story. We talk to two of its key players about the present and hopes for Dubai South to emerge as the new Silicon Valley in the future. ///////////////// Dubai South: A new Silicon Valley? W ith its capabilities aligned with the needs of a growing global economy driven by technology, Dubai South’s key focus is as a business hub – to provide smart services and facilities that support the ever-growing technology economy. Dubai South was established in 2006, known to be a fast-growing free zone in the UAE, offering a range of services that raises the ease of doing business in Dubai to the next level. The more than 145-square-kilometre free zone – the rebranded Dubai World Central – will ultimately sustain a population of one million. Dubai South’s economic platform supports every conceivable kind of business and industry. Shoaib Al Rahimi, Vice- President of the Business Park, Dubai South, 48 INTELLIGENTCIO said: “Understanding the demands of the new generation of businesses driven by technology, we will be focusing on innovative solutions and smart facilities that enhance the ease of doing business in Dubai and contribute to its efforts to maintain a leading global position in providing a state-of-the-art and business- friendly environment.” complex for all the different types and different sizes of organisations. These organisations are either looking for corporate offices to operate from or they are either start-ups, entrepreneurs or SMEs. At the business park there are 11 buildings with 2.3 million square feet of office space and this is where we create a hub for those businesses to work from. Intelligent CIO spoke to Shoaib Al Rahimi, Vice-President of the Business Park, Dubai South, to find out more. What are the technology demands of the businesses which are moving in? What’s your part in the organisation? I look after the business park where we’ve created a business and office It’s any technology that would save them time, effort and, of course, money that would increase their profitability so that’s every technology that would help them market their products and businesses. www.intelligentcio.com