Microsoft and Dubai Internet City will bring the next generation of products and services to UAE as part of its experiential Open Door event, on April 9 and 10 at Madinat Jumeirah Dubai.

The two-day event will give IT professionals an opportunity to experience a range of soon-to-be-released solutions from Microsoft and its partners, a statement said.

Microsoft Open Door will present an opportunity to experience technologies that are not yet available, the statement said. Attendees will also experience a sneak preview of Windows 8, which is not yet retailing.

It will also have a special focus on cloud-based solutions where the benefits that Microsoft Office 365, Windows Azure and Windows bring to business and consumers will be showcased. 

Other Microsoft solutions that will be highlighted at Open Door UAE include Systems Centre 2012, SQL Server 2012 as well as a range of mobile-based platforms.

“At Microsoft, we place innovation at the heart of everything we do,” said Samer Abu Ltaif, general manager, Microsoft Gulf. “The event will be a great platform for IT professionals in the UAE to experience new technologies that are not yet available in the market. It will also be a great opportunity for us and our partners to showcase a range of soon-to-be-released solutions while addressing the local market requirements from an IT perspective.”

“Dubai Internet City is committed to supporting the growth of the ICT industry and providing an ecosystem that attracts key players into the region,” said Malek Al Malek, managing director, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Outsource Zone. “The presence of technology major Microsoft at Dubai Internet City has phenomenally contributed to building the resilience of the industry and driving the region’s positive growth trend.”

“Operational for over 10 years at the ICT free zone, Microsoft has attracted a large community of technology professionals and specialists into the region and positioned the country to a global audience,” he said. “The initiative offers first-hand information, a preview of world class technologies from global specialists, as well as access to professional advice and expertise.”

Open Door UAE is one of five Microsoft experiential technology showcases taking place in the Gulf region this year, reaching people across five countries including Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and the UAE. 

The UAE edition of the event is expected to gather industry leaders to provide them with the opportunity to experience new solutions and support technologically enabled economic development, in what is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing markets in the region, the statement said. 

“At HP, we are always on the lookout for partnerships and collaborations that efficiently serve our customers and the IT community,” said Alaa Al-Shimy, enterprise, storage, servers and networking (ESSN) director, HP Middle East. “Microsoft Open Door presents an opportunity for us to showcase the latest technology and solutions together with our partners and contribute to the growth of the IT industry in the UAE.”

“IT is an essential component to any successful business and with the right mix of solutions and tools, businesses can simply enhance productivity and efficiency in the most cost-effective way,” said Guy England, business unit executive, IBM Middle East.

“We are excited about the partnership with Microsoft Gulf for Open Door and see this platform as an opportunity to connect and engage with leaders from the Business in the UAE,” he added. 

The strategic partner for UAE Open door is Dubai Internet City and regional sponsors are IBM and HP. – TradeArabia News Service