UAE- Dahi Khalfan inaugurates Future Technology Week 2016

DUBAI 29th March 2016 (WAM) -- Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai today formally inaugurated Future Technology Week a new umbrella concept collecting four specialised industry trade platforms Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC) Gulf Enterprise Mobility Exhibition and Conference (GEMEC) the Internet of Things Expo (IoTx) and The Big Data Show at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Lieutenant General Tamim was joined on the inauguration by Helal Saaed Almarri Director General of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre Authority and a host of VVIP dignitaries and leading industry professionals.

Organised by DWTC and running across four halls until Thursday Future Technology Week comes as the current data explosion and interconnectivity brought about by the Internet of Things (IoT) is driving a rising need for individuals and organisations to protect vital information and avert potential cybersecurity attacks.

Collecting more than 10000 local regional and international industry professionals experts and technology leaders Future Technology Week has been conceived as an all-encompassing platform to address critical issues and technology advances in the realms of cybersecurity IoT big data and enterprise mobility.

With recent studies showing that more data has been generated in the past two years than in the entire history of humanity the digital data universe is projected to reach 44 zettabytes (44 trillion gigabytes) by 2020 according to IDC. With internet usage and smart device penetration rates among the world's highest Future Technology Week is shining the spotlight on the need for increased personal and corporate security in a Middle East region that will house 425 million internet users by 2019 according to the 10th annual Cisco Visual Networking Index Forecast.

"In our increasingly connected world information is gold and big data is driving new investment opportunities for companies in nearly every industrial sector. That data needs to be secured and organisations of all shapes and sized understand the need to protect their systems from hackers and potentially damaging data theft" said Trixie LohMirmand Senior Vice President Exhibitions and Events Management DWTC.

"Future Technology Week brings together experts from around the world to explore and discuss critical issues including cybersecurity the shift towards IoT connectivity and the collection analysis and monetisation of big data that are now affecting organisations and individuals worldwide."

On the first day of Future Technology Week the IoTX conference featured key experts discussing trends on IoT blueprint; connecting the unconnected digital wearables; mitigating pervasive risks; and disrupting hardware. Headlining the first day of the conference Younus Al Nasser Assistant Director General Dubai Smart Government Office discussed how Dubai is creating a smart vision for the region.

IoTX also featured a panel discussion on how cities of the future will evolve from smart to responsive and adaptive featuring Karine Dongin-Sauze Deputy Mayor - Greater Lyon and C-Level executives from Huawei Innovate UK GE Power and Water Pacific Controls Dubai Municipality and Ericsson Middle East.

Safder Nazir Regional Vice President Smart Cities & IoT Huawei added: "We are excited to be back at IoTX and GISEC. We anticipate vibrant interaction with visitors who I'm sure will be excited by the conference sessions and solutions we plan to showcase as we look to drive the regional IoT and security agenda."

"IoT (Internet of Things) is a topic that is of vital importance to us as an organization and additionally to the UAE as a whole. With technological developments and smart cities being key focus areas our participation will elaborate the ways in which one can harness IoT to ensure cost savings efficiency and higher product yields. We look forward to sharing our perspective and the potential impact of IoT with the wider audience during Future Technology Week IoTX due to take place here in Dubai" said Anthony Sayers Dell Internet of Things EMEA Dell OEM Solutions EMEA "As the world is moving towards IoT and 50 billion connected devices IoT transformation will position operators and key industry players on the path to success" said Rafiah Ibrahim Head of Ericsson Region Middle East and Africa. "We believe IoT will help to lower the risks and costs of experimenting with new business models while making it possible to reach out to new markets quickly. This technology monetises new and existing assets and takes our partners' businesses beyond connectivity and into abundant new revenue opportunities."

With enterprise mobility now a business necessity business around the world are exploring new ways of working and transforming internal processes using smart devices. According to IDC the GCC's mobile connected devices market is expected to increase from 35 million units in 2015 to 45 million units by 2019 a four-year jump of 29%.