Adopt technology to address business challenges, experts at CIOMajlis conference tell industry.

Team creating a permanent, digitally enabled environment for Expo 2020 and afterward.

Dubai implementing data strategy to transform Dubai as the smartest city in the world.

The high profile technology conference organized by CIOMajlis in Dubai concluded that the UAE is ahead of others in the region in terms of technology adoption, but called upon businesses to adopt technology to address business challenges.

CIOMajlis hosted its third annual conference at Caesars Forum at Caesars Bluewaters Dubai, which discussed vital technology trends under the theme Power of Possibilities – Focus on the Future, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group. More than 200 CIOs participated in the conference.

“Technology has emerged as one of the key weapons for countries to lead the world. There should be a combination of business mind with technology. For example, Expo 2020, cornerstone of which is technology. It’s an exhibition on a grand scale enabled by technology. Similarly, businesses can solve a lot of problems through technology. In reality, technology is available to face the future, but the challenge is how to put in place,” said Ahmad Almulla, Chairman of CIOMajlis.

The CIOMajlis conference was aimed at addressing the challenges, by bringing everybody together, the consultants, the end-user, technology provider and the authorities. A series of presentations and discussions were hosted by key government officials and industry leaders who talked about the digitally enabled environment for Expo 2020, the deployable technology and innovative solutions in Abu Dhabi Special Olympics 2019, and the key initiatives spurring the cashless revolution and 5G in the UAE.

“We created the CIOMajlis to be a platform for innovation and knowledge sharing for both; the public and private CIOs in the UAE. We want to provide them with a learning experience in an informal way, and bring best practices in using new technologies for business enablement and digital transformation. I believe we have managed to establish a good community of practice that all members are looking forward to the monthly gatherings, annual innovation tour and the annual conference,” said Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Smartworld.

Dr. Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General, Smart Dubai, who delivered the keynote address titled ‘Smart Dubai Initiatives to transform Dubai into the world’s smartest and happiest city’ said the data economy is becoming an essential pillar of all future cities and Dubai is building a data market place to monetize data. He gave a detailed plan of Dubai’s data strategy and Dubai’s economic dashboard, data governance, ethical Artificial Intelligence implementation, AI principles and city data architecture infrastructure and how to monetize the data. He said Dubai is implementing the data strategy to transform Dubai as the smartest city in the world, to enhance life experience and make Dubai safe in all aspects.

Giving a presentation on ‘Creating a permanent, digitally enabled environment for Expo 2020 and afterward’, Mohammed Alhashmi, Chief Innovation & Future Technology, Expo 2020, said Dubai is bringing the virtual world and real world together through technology. “We are doing everything with passion to make Expo 2020 the best ever and give the participants a feeling that they never experienced before.”