IT & Telecoms
From The Report: Dubai 2014
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Through strong government support, an attractive business environment and innovative free zones, Dubai has established itself as a leading regional centre for information and communications technology (ICT). Improved infrastructure for modernising technology is also helping domestic players diversify their services for an increasingly tech-savvy clientele, with demand for regionally and locally specific applications and content in multiple languages, particularly Arabic, set to grow. Most of this demand will be met by large, established companies, but increasingly start-ups, and even individuals, could begin to play a role in the market as well. For business customers, managed solutions and cloud-based services will steadily replace the traditional model of software and hardware sales throughout the region, with Dubai well placed to benefit from this trend.

This chapter contains an interview with Osman Sultan, CEO, du.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Globally connected: Bringing more sophisticated products and services to the market
OBG
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Through strong government support, an attractive business environment and innovative free zones, Dubai has established itself as a leading regional centre for information and communications technology (ICT). Growth of information technology (IT) services is poised to accelerate as demand for off-site business solutions, especially in certain sectors, rises in line with the broader economic expansion of the region as whole. The ICT sector is a key part of Dubai’s vision of becoming a commercial…

Interview

OBG talks to Osman Sultan, CEO, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du)
OBG
plus

Interview:Osman Sultan What new opportunities lie ahead for private sector participation, and what challenges does the telecoms industry in the GCC region face? OSMAN SULTAN: New channels of communication are bringing in additional players. The opportunities span from companies’ core business, to new marketing channels, to creating an environment that will enable this country to thrive as a regional business centre. The UAE has performed admirably over the last 20-30 years, first as a centre…

Interview

OBG talks to Osman Sultan, CEO, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du)
OBG
plus

Interview:Osman Sultan What new opportunities lie ahead for private sector participation, and what challenges does the telecoms industry in the GCC region face? OSMAN SULTAN: New channels of communication are bringing in additional players. The opportunities span from companies’ core business, to new marketing channels, to creating an environment that will enable this country to thrive as a regional business centre. The UAE has performed admirably over the last 20-30 years, first as a centre…

Overview

A turning point: Operators look to higher-end services and tailored offerings to drive revenue growth in a changing market
OBG
plus

In many ways, 2012 was a turning point for the telecoms industry in Dubai. While overall revenues rose by 10% to Dh26.9bn ($7.32bn), those from the fixed-line segment dropped by more than 8% and average revenue per user (ARPU) fell across the sector. As recent figures illustrate, parts of the sector that could once be relied upon for steady growth are becoming less important. As such, new strategies are being developed to monetise previous investments in infrastructure by providing higher-end services…