Alibaba Cloud aims to expand its services in the Middle East while focusing on forthcoming mega-events, including Dubai Expo 2020.
“Our local team is based in Dubai and it is actively engaging with different industries that are willing to adopt new technology and innovations,” said Wanli Min, chief data scientist and vice president of the cloud computing unit of the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group.
The company opened its first regional data centre in Dubai in 2016 which is operated by YVOLV, a joint venture between Alibaba Cloud and Dubai property developer Meraas.
“We are looking forward to expand our operations in the region,” he said.
During the fiscal year ended on March 31, global revenue from Alibaba Cloud increased 101 per cent year-on-year to more than $2.1 billion (Dh7.71bn).
“We are also aiming to be a part of Dubai Expo 2020, one of the biggest events to take place in the region,” said Mr Wanli.
Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud is ranked third behind Amazon and Microsoft in the infrastructure-as-a-service public cloud services market, according to US researcher Gartner.
“Strategically, this region is very important not only because of the oil but because of the mindsets of local governments,” said Mr Wanli.
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“Local governments are very open to adopt new technologies and innovations. Usually it is very difficult to find this kind of open mindset from the government side.”
Alibaba Cloud had indicated it would open a second data centre in Dubai this year.
However, when asked about its plans, Mr Wanli did not give a definite answer.
There are other new players also emerging in the region.
Amazon Web Services has signed an agreement with the Bahraini government to open at least three data centres by next year.
In March, Microsoft announced plans to open data centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, its first in the Middle East, as the software maker seeks to capitalise on the region’s growing demand for digitisation.
SAP, Europe’s biggest technology company, announced the opening of a third
data centre in the region in August.
“What we are showcasing at Alibaba Cloud are not just theoretical results from research labs, but actual field tests in cities and industries with our solutions,” said Mr Wanli.
From the Dubai data centre, the company is serving its customers across GCC member countries.
“The UAE is our leading market and we see immense potential in industries such as public sector, manufacturing, energy and oil as they all are very data-intensive.
“Over the years, our number of customers has increased very rapidly in this region,” said Mr Wanli, who declined to share figures.
At the recently concluded annual electronics show Gitex in Dubai, Alibaba Cloud showcased solutions offering urban planners the tools to upgrade their city governance such as improving real-time traffic management, pollution control and smart drainage systems.
“We are also aiming to be a part of Dubai Expo 2020, one of the biggest events to take place in the region,” said Mr Min.
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
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Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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Price, base: From Dh57,000
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