Information technology (IT) in the Middle East
Information technology (IT) news, trends, articles and research for the Middle East - the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and others. This section covers IT security, data backup and recovery, networking, data centre, cloud computing, mobile applications, virtualisation, big data, virtual machines and more.
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News
24 Oct 2025
Interview: Inside Abu Dhabi’s fast-track formula for deep-tech startups
With its integrated model for research, innovation, and commercialisation, VentureOne’s CEO says the incubator is helping turn the UAE’s bold tech ambitions into globally competitive companies. Continue Reading
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News
23 Oct 2025
Abu Dhabi bets on autonomous racing to accelerate AI and mobility innovation
Through the Autonomous Racing League, Aspire and the Advanced Technology Research Council are using high-speed competition to test and advance real-world AI and robotics systems Continue Reading
- 10 Jul 2019
- 10 Jul 2019
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Feature
01 Jul 2019
Facebook’s privacy game – how Zuckerberg backtracked on promises to protect personal data
Facebook promised its users privacy then quietly abandoned its promises in pursuit of profits. Now it faces antitrust regulation Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2019
Interview: Yasmeen Al Sharaf, head of fintech and innovation unit, Central Bank of Bahrain
Yasmeen Al Sharaf heads up financial technology strategy at Bahrain’s central bank, which is on a mission to grow and diversify the sector in the Middle East island state Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2019
Saudi banks trial blockchain-based identity technology at ATMs
Biometric and blockchain technologies are being used in tandem to provide ID verification at Saudi Arabian cash machines Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Jun 2019
Should tech companies capitalise R&D spending?
Technology companies frequently ask whether they should capitalise their research and development costs. There are clear benefits, increasing reported profit and hence potential valuations, but what are the risks? Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2019
Etihad Airways uses artificial intelligence to source ideas from staff
UAE airline works with tech startup to create a platform to help it apply employees’ ideas to address business challenges Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2019
Emirates NBD builds bank of future with Amazon Web Services
UAE bank is accessing the latest technology through a close relationship with IT giant Amazon Web Services Continue Reading
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News
31 May 2019
Facebook loses bid to halt European court decision on EU-US data sharing
Irish Supreme Court dismisses attempt by Facebook to prevent the European Court of Justice considering the validity of US-EU data transfers, after Austrian lawyer Max Schrems argued that they put the privacy of EU citizens at risk Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2019
Saudi Arabia’s largest auto company completes SAP project as part of digital transformation
Abdul Latif Jameel Motors wins SAP Quality Gold Award for digital revamp programme that overhauled performance and efficiency across its business Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2019
Middle East Interview: Dubai-based Fetchr
Delivery app Fetchr is spreading across the Middle East with its mobile-to-mobile delivery service. We talk to its founder Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2019
Facebook engaged in ‘calculated’ campaign to eliminate competition, claims businessman
A US businessman is seeking damages from Facebook after accusing the social media company of unfairly blocking “humorous” Facebook pages which generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising revenue Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2019
Facebook co-founder: ‘It is time to break up Facebook’
Co-founder of Facebook, Chris Hughes, has published an op-ed in The New York Times calling for Facebook to be broken up, as it faces investigations from the US Federal Trade Commission Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2019
Middle East Interview: Bahrain fintech drive gathers speed
Bahrain wants to be a launchpad into the wider region for financial technology firms looking to scale Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2019
Facebook faces fresh privacy actions from regulators
Facebook faces legal action from Canada after it dismissed regulators’ findings that it failed to protect customer privacy. The firm has set aside $5bn to settle a privacy action in the US and faces a new investigation in Ireland Continue Reading
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News
23 Apr 2019
Egypt aims to develop coding skills earlier in education system
An Egyptian government initiative will see thousands of teenagers trained to code in HTML, CSS and Python Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2019
Etihad Airways automates customer and luggage journey monitoring
National airline of United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, will improve passenger journeys through automated monitoring Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2019
Middle East CIOs optimistic as budgets increase and digital transformations expand
Cyber security and risk management will see the biggest increase in spending, but digital transformation of businesses is a major driver of investment, survey shows Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2019
Facebook takes extraordinary legal steps to contain document leak
Facebook targets journalists and news organisations for computer searches Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 Apr 2019
CW Middle East: Visibility and security of networks are top IT priorities
The 2019 Computer Weekly/TechTarget IT Priorities survey shows that enterprise buyers in the Middle East, like those in the UK and Europe, are looking to lock down their networks in the face of an almost constant barrage of threats and malicious actors. Also read how Facebook planned to use its Android app to track the location of its customers and to allow advertisers to send political advertising, and what further details operator O2 has revealed about how it is planning for the advent of 5G. Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2019
Skype blocked in UAE will hit businesses as well as people
Skype has been blocked to users in the United Arab Emirates, and its effects will be felt by businesses as well as citizens Continue Reading
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News
02 Apr 2019
Huawei reports record numbers despite tumultuous year
Huawei has become one of the world’s largest technology companies by revenue, suggesting the accusations over its ties to the Chinese government are failing to have much impact Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2019
Middle East countries accelerate quantum computing research
Gulf countries must invest in quantum computing research to ensure they continue to to remain digital pioneers Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2019
Met Police collaborated with US prosecutors in WikiLeaks investigation
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it exchanged information on WikiLeaks staff in the UK with the US Department of Justice, which is conducting criminal investigations into the organisation Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2019
Revolutionising patient booking in the Gulf
Startup in the Gulf region is applying digital technology to solve the inefficiencies in medical appointment booking processes Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Mar 2019
CW Europe: Robots deliver savings for Dutch postal service
In this issue we look at how Dutch delivery company PostNL is reaping huge efficiency savings by using robotic technology to automate time-consuming administrative tasks, Facebook’s opposition to the referral of questions about the legality of data transfers between Europe and the US to the European Court of Justice, and how Oslo is thriving from a unique combination of business agility, a cultural receptiveness to technology, and a social desire to do good. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2019
UK among most expensive countries for mobile data
The UK ranks 136th in the world for the average cost of 1GB of mobile data, according to new statistics Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2019
Facebook asked George Osborne to influence EU data protection law
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg invited one of the chancellor’s children to Facebook’s office as part of a intensive lobbying programme to influence European data protection legislation Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2019
Facebook planned to spy on Android phone users, internal emails reveal
Facebook planned to use its Android app to track the location of its customers and to allow advertisers to send political advertising and invites to dating sites to ‘single’ people, confidential documents show Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2019
Estonia redoubles efforts to attract global IT talent
IT professionals from all over the world are being lured to Estonia through a government recruitment campaign Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2019
Bahrain plans to create a world-leading tech ecosystem
Bahrain is building a technology ecosystem that will help the country further reduce its economic reliance on the oil and gas industry Continue Reading
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E-Zine
10 Jan 2019
CW Middle East: Bahrain aims to be fintech hub
Bahrain’s government wants to make the country the go-to place in the Middle East for financial technology companies. It hopes to capitalise on its banking know-how to establish an ambitious fintech “ecosystem”. Also read about Dubai’s plans for the Smart Data platform and the UAE Pass, a digital ID and signature, and how Shell is using AI to amplify the human impact of its workforce. Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Dec 2018
Can we live without passwords?
Can you imagine a future in which we can be secure online without having to remember an unwieldly list of passwords? Solutions are emerging that could make passwords redundant, but there will be other security problems to resolve Continue Reading
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News
27 Dec 2018
Top 10 Middle East stories of 2018
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 Middle East enterprise IT stories of 2018 Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Dec 2018
Douglas Engelbart, the forgotten hero of modern computing
Half a century ago, Douglas Engelbart demonstrated an experimental computer that laid the foundations for modern computing. His vision to use computing power to solve complex problems in all areas of human activity has become reality, but not in the way that he imagined Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Nov 2018
More effective digital transformation through the power of your own people
The old model of escalating decisions up and down the management chain does not work any more. Business leaders need to delegate responsibility for projects to business and technology specialists and eliminate the fear of failure Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2018
China leapfrogs US in supercomputer deployments
China has more than twice the number of supercomputers than the US, and it is finding a ready market for its Lenovo supercomputers among US tech companies in Ireland, the latest top 500 supercomputer list reveals Continue Reading
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News
06 Nov 2018
Smart Dubai platform is the backbone of the city's transformation
Aisha bin Bishr, director general at Smart Dubai Office, talks about the Smart Data platform and soon-to-be-unveiled UAE Pass, a digital ID and signature which is being touted as one of the foundations a city needs to transform Continue Reading
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News
06 Nov 2018
GSMA urges fresh action on 5G mobile spectrum
Mobile industry body says time is running out to ready enough radio frequency spectrum in the appropriate bands to account for the demands of 5G mobile networks Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2018
How Bahrain plans to become a regional fintech hub
Bahrain is a small island with big plans for its financial technology industry Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2018
Autonomous taxi trials underway in Dubai
Dubai’s transport authority has started road testing the region’s first autonomous taxi, designed in partnership with Dubai Silicon Oasis and DG World Continue Reading
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News
23 Oct 2018
CIOs and the cloud: The future of European enterprise software
European organisations are moving to the cloud rapidly, but trepidation remains in concerning certain aspects, such as security Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2018
Dubai Health Authority unveils virtual health app for GP consultations
Health authority adopts new technology as part of the Dubai Future Accelerators initiative Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2018
Middle East gears up for 5G
The race for 5G is well and truly under way, and the UAE and Saudi Arabia are well positioned to be among the first countries in the world to deliver the benefits of this new telecoms protocol Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2018
Best of VMworld Europe 2018 Awards nominations now open until 26 October
Read the criteria for the Best of VMworld Europe User Awards and find out how to submit your nomination Continue Reading
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News
15 Oct 2018
Big expectations, huge presence: Gitex 2018 opens
Artificial intelligence, blockchain, 5G, robotics, and virtual and augmented reality are all in the spotlight at Gitex Technology Week 2018 in Dubai Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 Oct 2018
CW Middle East: Middle East warms to humanoid robots
Countries in the Middle East are warming to humanoid robotics, robotic process automation and artificial intelligence as these technologies become widely accepted globally. Also in this issue, read why Saudi Arabia has called on London’s fintechs to set up in the country with the promise of government support, and find out how the Gulf Warehousing Company has introduced cloud-based technology to replace paper processes used by its HR department. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2018
At the new Cisco, culture is as important as innovation
Cisco’s newly appointed SVP of Emear, Wendy Mars, shares her thoughts on the state of network innovation within the industry, and explains why cultural change is just as important an element of a digital strategy Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2018
InfoWatch opens training centre to help address Middle East skills shortage
Security supplier offers Middle East customers cyber security and digital training facility as organisations in the region struggle to equip staff with latest skills Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2018
Middle East hungry for digitisation, says GE’s Bill Ruh
The Middle East is among the most enthusiastic regions in terms of applying digital business models to traditional industries Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2018
TechUK blasts European Parliament-backed revamp of EU-wide copyright laws
Tech industry trade body claims the changes spell bad news for web users, after European Parliament MEPs vote in favour of plans to modernise the copyright laws for the digital age Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2018
FCA warns it cannot manage financial crime risks without sharing data with EU
FCA admits it will be unable to manage financial crime effectively if it cannot share data with EU authorities. Continue Reading
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News
29 Aug 2018
IT leaders at a crossroads as they grapple with digital technology
CIOs have the opportunity to influence their company strategy as digital technology reshapes business. A survey of CIOs across 70 countries charts a path for IT leaders through emerging technologies Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2018
Dubai Health Authority launches artificial intelligence strategy
Healthcare organisation is rolling out next-generation technology in its health facilities to improve patient care Continue Reading
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News
05 Aug 2018
The rise of humanoid robotics in the Middle East
Middle East CIOs are planning to roll out intelligent automation technologies such as artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics Continue Reading
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News
30 Jul 2018
Dubai disputes court and Smart Dubai partner to apply blockchain
Organisations in Dubai are working on developing the principal of blockchain-based courts Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2018
Saudi Arabia entices UK fintechs to its shores
Saudi Arabia is offering fintechs from other countries the opportunity to access its large internal market Continue Reading
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E-Zine
12 Jul 2018
CW Middle East: Can Saudi Arabia build the Silicon Valley of the Middle East?
In April this year, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman visited Silicon Valley in the US to meet tech giants such as Apple and Amazon in its efforts to fast-forward the kingdom’s technology capabilities. Read about its lofty ambitions. Also in this issue, read how demand for skilled IT professionals is increasing rapidly in the Middle East, which is facing a talent crunch. Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council smart city initiatives are gathering momentum. Continue Reading
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News
04 Jul 2018
European banks need to balance fintech strategies
European Banking Authority highlights the risks of banks taking up fintech too quickly, and of ignoring it Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2018
Case study: Logistics firm GWC moves from paper to digital HR in three months
Qatar-based logistics firm Gulf Warehousing Company introduced smart appraisals for employees, cut the time it takes to recruit, and gave staff and managers access to accurate HR data by replacing paper systems with human resources software Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2018
British Muslim considers appeal after court rules repeated terrorism stops are legal
Muzaffar Abdullah, a 37-year-old gas engineer who has been stopped and questioned by police at airports at least 10 times, is considering an appeal after being found guilty of wilful obstruction for refusing to answer questions under controversial terrorism legislation. He received a conditional discharge. Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Jun 2018
Big data skills shortages – and how to work around them
Businesses are finding it hard to recruit enough people with big data and analytics skills, but for CIOs there are alternative strategies to consider Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2018
Interxion expands colocation footprint in Marseille with second datacentre opening
Carrier-neutral colocation provider Interxion has opened the first phase of its second datacentre in Marseille, as the demand for lower-latency cloud connections to Africa and beyond grows Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2018
Saudi-con Valley? Kingdom’s bid for global tech leadership
Has Saudi Arabia got what it takes to build the latest Silicon Valley? Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2018
Cage director Rabbani heads for Supreme Court after appeals court rules password demands lawful
Muhammad Rabbani, director of campaigning group Cage, will appeal to the Supreme Court after Court of Appeal rules that police did not act unlawfully by demanding his computer and mobile phone passwords under Section 7 of the Terrorism Act Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 May 2018
Hacking the internet of things just got easier – it’s time to look at your security
Are you taking security for internet-connected devices seriously enough? Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2018
Gulf Cooperation Council smart city initiatives garner momentum
The Middle East is a hotbed for smart city developments, with activities in the region maturing and adapting to what citizens want Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Apr 2018
GDPR: An overview of the latest data protection legislation
The forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will have wide-ranging implications for every organisation that processes personal data. This comprehensive overview tells you what you need to know Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2018
British banks target Israeli security technology
British banks are turning to Israel’s high-tech sector to protect against cyber attacks Continue Reading
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News
23 Apr 2018
Next generation of SCADA industrial controls will protect against cyber attack
Oil, energy and chemical companies are rethinking how to control big manufacturing plants, replacing expensive control technology with cheaper, more secure systems, taking their cue from biology Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Apr 2018
Blockchain: Paving the way for broad adoption
The foundations have been laid for organisations to begin standardising on the technology, talent and platforms that will drive future blockchain initiatives Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Apr 2018
Protecting your intellectual property in a digital world
Your business is creating innovative computer code, slick user interfaces, and is using digital technology to solve new problems. How do you protect your investment? Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2018
European IT services spending down as businesses focus on GDPR compliance
European organisations are reducing their spending on IT services and are redirecting resources towards becoming compliant with the EU General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2018
BT to supply European air navigation network
BT has been selected to provide the upgraded air traffic management network across Europe Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Apr 2018
Moving away from analogue health in a digital world
Healthcare records still rely on faxes, email, mail and paper, but the innovative use of technology will lead to major improvements in medical care Continue Reading
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E-Zine
12 Apr 2018
CW Middle East: UAE makes artificial intelligence leap
The United Arab Emirates wants to be at the heart of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution and is already testing its mettle as a global tech advocate and innovator. Also in this issue, read how Abu Dhabi is open to developing its fintech ecosystem, with the next 12 months expected to see more focus on the sector, and how Dubai’s transport authority has enlisted Here Technologies to build a high-definition map of the city to support its goals around self-driving cars. Continue Reading
- 11 Apr 2018
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News
10 Apr 2018
European CIOs have budget balancing act ahead of them
There is some consensus among European CIOs on budget rises across the continent, but less so on what to invest in Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Apr 2018
Driving digitisation: open standards in process automation
Organisations often can’t take advantage of advances in digital technology due to the lack of interoperability in their IT systems in different facilities, but open standards promise a way forward Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2018
Autonomous drones will fly into danger zones for emergency services
Automated drones will use sophisticated visual systems and machine learning techniques to carry out search and rescue missions where humans fear to tread Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2018
Dubai's gamble on bitcoin property sales
Dubai is pioneering the use of bitcoin in the real world, with the property sector leading the way Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2018
Capgemini turns to tech startup to identify ‘most engaged’ teams
Technology and consulting services firm Capgemini is using technology from a startup company to poll its employees’ views and provide feedback from managers every week. It is discovering what it takes to create “engaged teams” Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2018
European insurtech growth dwarfs US
Europe is seeing rapid growth in its insurtech as investors pump hundreds of millions into the sector Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Mar 2018
How Turkish mobile operators are helping the vast Syrian refugee population to help themselves
Turkish mobile network operators are designing services that will help Syrian refugees make their lives in the country Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2018
IT attracts more foreign investment projects to UK than other sectors
IT accounts for the highest number of foreign direct investment projects in the UK, which should come as a warning to the UK government to listen to the sector Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2018
Capgemini arm bags European Commission data infrastructure project
The European Commission has extended the contract of prime contractor Capgemini on its open data project Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2018
EC reveals plan to make Europe global fintech hub
The European Commission has unveiled proposals to boost the EU’s financial technology sector Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2018
European cities woo English-speaking IT talent
Organisations in major European cities have upped their search for English-speaking talent, including IT professionals, since the UK’s referendum on EU membership Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2018
Middle East faces IT talent crunch
Countries in the Middle East are adopting the latest technologies at such a rapid rate that the region faces an IT skills shortage Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2018
MWC 2018: 5G collaboration dominates agenda at annual mobile fair
At Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona, 5G mobile networks were the talk of the show, and a number of operators announced new collaborations around the emerging network standard with their technology partners Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2018
UAE makes artificial intelligence leap
The UAE is investing in becoming a global pioneer in the use of artificial intelligence technology in various sectors of its economy Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2018
Industrial cyber security improving, but needs work
Cyber attacks on industrial and critical infrastructure systems are increasing in number and sophistication, but more attention is being paid to security, says Honeywell at it opens new Dubai facility Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2018
Europe in the firing line of evolving DDoS attacks
The Europe, Middle East and Africa region accounts for more than half the world’s distributed denial of service attacks, a report from F5 Labs reveals Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2018
Tech boosts sales at Abu Dhabi’s Healthpoint
United Arab Emirates healthcare provider Healthpoint has increased sales and efficiency through the use of the latest IT systems Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Feb 2018
Europe’s shameful role in spy-tech exports that led to torture and jail
Governments in Europe actively assisted in government oppression in Iran, Bahrain and Russia by providing states with sophisticated surveillance equipment. The European Parliament is pressing for changes in the law to restrict exports of spy-technology to countries with poor human rights records Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2018
European Commission eyes blockchain opportunity
The European Commission is aiming to get the most out of blockchain technology in a wide variety of sectors Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2018
GDPR requests to take thousands of hours a month, says survey
A recent survey predicts organisations will potentially face thousands of customer requests about their personal information every month, with many unprepared for GDPR compliance Continue Reading
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News
30 Jan 2018
Davos: Cyber risks grow as countries turn towards protectionism
The cost of natural disasters is now at record levels, but the cost of cyber crime is far higher. The World Economic Forum hopes to persuade governments to work together on the problem, but with isolationist politics back in fashion, can it succeed? Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2018
Interview: Kaspar Korjus, Estonian e-Residency lead
As the number of people signing up to become Estonian e-residents exceeds the country’s birth rate, Computer Weekly speaks to the man heading up the programme Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2018
European Parliament votes to restrict exports of surveillance equipment
European Parliament votes to tighten export controls to restrict supply of surveillance and encryption technology to states with poor human rights records amid fears British companies may not have to comply after Brexit Continue Reading
