Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) will be highlighting the impact of smart city initiatives at GITEX Technology Week 2018, with a focus on developments in artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies at DAFZA. Through its presence at the event, DAFZA spokespeople will be also discussing developments in network security, Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud solutions and the impact they have on business environments with key stakeholders during the event.

In support of the UAE vision 2021, DAFZA is focusing on innovation-based initiatives with a strategy of transforming and future proofing its services to be able to cater to the evolving digital economy.

DAFZA’s presence at GITEX this year highlights its ongoing commitment to leverage its advanced ICT solutions to better serve our customers through more innovative business solutions and advanced digital services.

The number of information technology (IT) companies now represent 30% of all organizations based in the free zone. This reaffirms the free zone’s commitment to supporting digital transformation, innovation and new technologies.

DAFZA has built a strategy that is focused on transforming its operations at the free zone to become more digital in line with the UAE’s long term plan to create smarter industries. The strategy aims to increase the level of business efficiency, speed and excellence in order to continue attracting foreign investments to Dubai.

DAFZA’s Innovation Strategy also aligns with the UAE National Innovation Strategy and has the overarching objective of establishing DAFZA as a world-class free zone that is driven by new age technologies.

DAFZA will also showcase elements of its Digital Intelligence Plan 2018-2020 which was developed in line with the Dubai Internet of Things Strategy (IOT) and the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence.

As part of the plan, DAFZA will introduce new mechanisms and different touchpoints along its customer journeys to deliver the best services for sustaining a seamless customer experience. It is conducting detailed studies on the possibility of providing all internal and external services through an intelligent and smart management center that will use smart phones and many other channels. The possibility of automating routine processes through artificial intelligence techniques is being explored as well.

Spending on information and communications technology in the Middle East and Africa is expected to reach $230 billion (Dh844.1 billion) this year, a year-on-year increase of 2.7 per cent. * The growth is driven by key factors such as the rise of cloud and big data analytics, and emerging technologies such as IoT, AI and virtual devices.

The digital transformation initiatives in the region are also driving increased spending on IoT. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), regional organizations will increase their IoT investments which are forecast to grow 15% year-on-year in 2018, and spending is predicted to reach $6.99 billion in 2018 and $12.62 billion by 2021.

DAFZA will welcome visitors to its stand which will be located at DAFZA-CC2 -1.