The Dubai Digital Entrepreneurship Hub will connect startups, entrepreneurs, developers, venture capitalists and students so that they can establish new connections, learn about new opportunities and create new partnerships to help accelerate innovation and stimulate the local economy. The hub will allow the local community to interact with cloud technology in new ways, with special offers for startups to join IBM’s Global Entrepreneur Program, which provides mentoring, support and access to development tools and cloud resources via IBM Cloud.
This interactive cloud environment will be the first digital home for Dubai’s tech scene where virtual visitors can learn about new job opportunities and local tech news; sign up for tech-focused events, classes and meet-ups and more.
The first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa region for IBM, the Dubai Digital Entrepreneurship Hub will come under the umbrella of Smart Dubai Initiative, representing a unique partnership between the public and private sector to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the launch, H.E. Buamim said: “The idea behind Smart Dubai initiative is to embrace technology innovation to deliver the happiest experience for people living and doing business in the emirate. Dubai Chamber has realized that the swift transformation of Dubai into a smart city can be made possible only by a strong and all-encompassing partnership with the private sector.”
H.E. Buamim added: “The Dubai Digital Entrepreneurship Hub launched in collaboration with IBM represents a major step by Dubai Chamber to consolidate the concept of a smarter community by offering comprehensive information and services aligned to Dubai Government's strategic directions on smart cities thus reaffirming the public-private sector partnership.”
Powered by and built on the IBM Cloud, the Dubai Digital Entrepreneurship Hub will also offer a comprehensive search portal with a database and profile of Dubai-based tech startups and investors; a city-wide tech event calendar; continuous updates of technology-related jobs in the city; and a dedicated section for breaking news stories.
“Our collaboration with Dubai Chamber will help unleash new innovations which will solidify Dubai’s status as one of the leading technology hubs,” said Amr Refaat, General Manager, IBM Middle East and Pakistan.
“The Dubai Digital Entrepreneurship Hub will bring the city’s dynamic and creative business culture into the cloud to power the digital economy,” said Sandy Carter, general manager of the developer ecosystem and startups at IBM. “Startup communities in Dubai will experience first-hand the benefits of IBM Cloud, while providing a supportive environment for the entire startup ecosystem to connect, learn, network and thrive in both the local and global marketplaces."
Expressing her delight with this cooperation, H.E. Dr. Aisha Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai Office, stated that this partnership goes In line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to evolve Dubai as the world’s Smartest City by 2017 and the happiest city on earth.
H.E. Dr. Bin Bishr added: “The priority is to support entrepreneurs and help them to adopt latest smart technologies for the success and advancement of their business, while supporting the economic growth of Dubai. Entrepreneurship is a focus area within our smart economy dimension, and the Dubai Digital Entrepreneurship Hub initiative will provide a rich set of services to entrepreneurs in Dubai and the region.”
Smart Dubai’s six dimensions cover Smart Economy, Smart Living, Smart Environment, Smart Governance, Smart People and Smart Mobility.
This initiative also aligns with Dubai Chamber’s aim to support entrepreneurs and promote innovation. In 2015, the Chamber launched its innovation strategy in line with the Chamber’s mission to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai. The Chamber has also been working towards supporting entrepreneurs through its Tejar Dubai entrepreneurship development programme, which identifies and develops the business idea of Emirati entrepreneurs.
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