UAE's e& enterprise completes 100% acquisition of Smartworld

The UAE base e& enterprise, part of e& — formerly known as Etisalat — has completed the 100 per cent acquisition of Smartworld, one of the UAE’s leading technology solutions providers and systems integrators, the company said on Tuesday.

Smartworld’s solutions will be embedded in the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence business lines of e& enterprise. Smartworld will now operate under e& enterprise and rebranded as e& enterprise iot and ai, e& enterprise said.

“We are keen to ramp up our efforts in helping governments and enterprises elevate to data-driven and highly automated organisations. Through the acquisition, we can do this and more, as enterprise customers seek to accelerate their digital transformation journey,” Salvador Anglada, chief executive of e& enterprise, said.

“We are well placed to create enormous business value for our customers and business partners, solidifying our technology leadership,” Mr Anglada said.

Through e& enterprise iot and ai, the company will focus on use cases in various industries such as smart and sustainable cities, safe cities, industry 4.0, digital healthcare, aviation, manufacturing, logistics, oil and gas, utilities and eGovernment, said officials.

The UAE, the Arab world's second-largest economy, is expected to benefit the most in the Middle East from AI adoption. The technology is expected to contribute up to 14 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product — equivalent to $97.9 billion — by 2030, according to consultancy PWC.

Established in 2008, Smartworld is engaged in several projects across various industries, servicing some of the top organisations in the UAE, such as Expo 2020 Dubai, Dubai Airports, Nakheel, Jumeirah and Meraas.

Its solutions portfolio includes infrastructure, information and communication technologies, smart building, security, audio-visual and smart solutions.

Previously the vice president of IoT and AI industry solutions at e& enterprise, Alberto Araque will now head e& enterprise iot and ai as its chief executive.

“e& enterprise iot & ai will enhance customer experience through the design and implementation capabilities of Smartworld,” Mr Araque said.

“Our combined capabilities now enable e& enterprise as a whole to fortify its core IoT and AI offerings to its customers, magnifying its core value of staying customer-centric at all times,” he added.

Currently operating in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, e& enterprise enables organisations to boost their digital potential through cloud, cyber security, IoT and AI.

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem

Rating: 4/5

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

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