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Abu Dhabi taxis to offer free Smart Wi-Fi service

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The Centre has officially announced its partnership with Telematics Networking & Communications LLC, in its rollout of Smart Wi-Fi across its entire fleet of taxi’s in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Passengers riding the Centre’s fleet of taxis in Abu Dhabi will enjoy a free Smart Wi-Fi service while on board, the largest and most innovative of its kind in the world. The rollout of the service will begin in November this year and is expected to be completed across the Centre’s entire fleet by mid 2017.

At Gitex Technology Week, Jamal Al Nuaimi, General Manager of Etisalat, Abu Dhabi and Esam Al Mazroei, Vice Chairman of Telematics signed a five-year partnership agreement today. As part of the agreement, Etisalat, whose world-class network will power the high speed and secure Smart Wi-Fi service, will deliver its network services and sophisticated M2M platform – M2M control centre for the largest connected car platform in the region to Telematics, which will be deployed across the entire Abu Dhabi taxi fleet.

Telematics, together with its partner BlueGreen, have worked closely with the Centre to design this bespoke Smart Wi-Fi service, which, in addition to providing a secure and robust Wi-Fi network to passengers, will also offer Abu Dhabi, and indeed the UAE, the biggest mobile media service within taxis. The Wi-Fi service can be used to deliver smart value-added services, such as customer communication, satisfaction surveys, government citizen polls, as well as allowing businesses and brands the ability to gainfully engage with their consumers without any friction.

Speaking of this key initiative, Mr Mohammad Al Qamzi, General Manager of The Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars said, “The Centre is constantly striving to enhance the passenger experience it delivers in its taxis. We are pleased to partner with Telematics and BlueGreen to bring this world-class Smart Wi-Fi service to our passengers, who can now avail of constant connectivity in our taxis for free, and also enjoy the bespoke value-added services it will deliver. We are confident this service will enhance passenger satisfaction and happiness, and thereby increase the use of our excellent public taxi service in Abu Dhabi.”

On the occasion of the launch of the Smart Wi-Fi service, Jamal Saeed Al Nuaimi, General Manager of Etisalat- Abu Dhabi, said “UAE has always led the way in the region and globally to launch and implement smart technologies and services that make an impact in the way of life for residents in the country. Etisalat is today spearheading UAE’s smart city and digital transformation journey. We are proud to be associated with this strategic project that is a global first. This is set to transform the digital experience of passengers in Abu Dhabi taxis, and I am sure will set the benchmark for Smart Taxi services across the UAE.”

In line with its smart city solution portfolio, Telematics worked eagerly on this initiative to support “the visionary leadership of the UAE in its efforts to create innovative and world-class technological services that pave the way for building a knowledge-driven society,” said Esam Al Mazroei, Vice Chairman of Telematics. “We are very proud to be the key partner in this project, especially as a local technology company that strives to innovate in local and global markets.”

As announced in late September, the rollout will begin with Airport taxis and the Mercedes Vito Compact vans.

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ALTERYX EXPANDS REGIONAL LEADERSHIP WITH SABYA SEN TO LEAD IMEA & APAC

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Alteryx Inc., a leading AI-ready data and analytics company, today announced the appointment of Sabya Sen as Vice President, IMEA & APAC, to lead its business across India, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific (IMEA & APAC). In this role, Sen will focus on accelerating customer outcomes and scaling adoption of the Alteryx One platform across some of the world’s fastest-growing markets for AI and data innovation.

Sen brings deep regional expertise and a strong track record of execution to this role. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Head of UKI & Emerging Markets Europe at Alteryx, where he drove consistent growth, built high-performing teams, and strengthened customer relationships across global markets.

The appointment comes at a critical phase for AI adoption globally and across IMEA and APAC, where governments and enterprises are increasing investments in digital transformation. In the Middle East, national strategies like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and UAE’s We the UAE 2031 are accelerating innovation agendas. The region’s AI market is projected to reach $320 billion USD, while globally, 89% of leaders plan to maintain or increase AI budgets in 2026. Despite this momentum, many organizations remain in pilot phases, underscoring the need for scalable, governed analytics solutions that can support enterprise-wide AI adoption.

“It is my priority to continue delivering meaningful outcomes for our customers and community,” said Sabya Sen, Vice President, IMEA & APAC. “Across the Middle East, India, and Asia-Pacific, we are seeing unprecedented momentum driven by ambitious national transformation agendas. These efforts are accelerating economic diversification, advancing digital innovation, and firmly positioning these regions as global hubs for data and AI-led growth.”

Prior to joining Alteryx, Sen spent 11 years at Salesforce in a variety of leadership roles, supporting customers across the insurance, financial services, and healthcare industries, where he helped organizations leverage data and technology to transform their operations. In his new role, Sen will focus on helping organizations move beyond experimentation to enterprise-scale AI adoption by delivering trusted, AI-ready data and analytics through the Alteryx One platform.

“Over the past few years, Sabya has had a tremendous impact on Alteryx and has demonstrated a remarkable level of focus, discipline, and strong commercial execution,” said Jason Janicke, Senior Vice President, EMEA & APJ at Alteryx. “He has delivered results, built a strong team culture, and consistently raised the bar. We can’t wait to see the impact that Sabya has in this next role.”

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THE CONVERGENCE OF CRISIS: HOW OVERLAPPING RISKS ARE REDEFINING WORKFORCE MOBILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

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By Gillan McNay, Security Director Assistance – Middle East, International SOS

In today’s Middle East operating environment, mobility risk no longer arrives in isolation. Organisations are increasingly navigating multiple, overlapping disruptions that converge to affect how, when, and whether their people can move. Geopolitical tension, aviation restrictions, cyber exposure, misinformation, and workforce anxiety are no longer separate risk categories – they interact, amplify one another, and challenge traditional mobility assumptions.

This convergence is redefining what “safe movement” looks like for organisations with employees traveling, deployed, or working abroad across the region.

From Single Events to Layered Disruption

Historically, mobility planning focused on discrete scenarios, weather events, isolated security incidents, or airline strikes. Today, organisations are far more likely to face layered disruption, where one event triggers a cascade of secondary impacts.

A regional security escalation may coincide with airspace closures. Airspace closures may lead to congestion at land borders. Border congestion increases stress for travelers, which in turn heightens reliance on digital communication channels, precisely when misinformation and cyber activity surge. Each layer compounds the next.

International SOS’ Risk Outlook 2026 highlights this shift clearly: risk is now systemic and interdependent, not episodic. For mobility teams, this means plans designed for one‑dimensional threats will be insufficient.

Mobility Is Now a Strategic Exposure

Movement of people has become a strategic risk vector rather than a logistical one. When employees cannot travel as planned, the impact extends beyond delayed meetings or project timelines. It affects:

  • Business continuity
  • Leadership visibility
  • Employee confidence and wellbeing
  • Regulatory and duty‑of‑care obligations

In the Middle East, this is especially pronounced due to the region’s role as a global aviation hub and its highly international workforce. When airspace is disrupted in one country, the effects ripple across neighbouring states almost immediately.

As a result, organisations must treat mobility decisions with the same scrutiny as other strategic risks, cybersecurity, financial exposure, or supply‑chain dependency.

The New Reality: Mobility Under Uncertainty

In recent months, we have seen how quickly mobility conditions can change. Routes that were viable in the morning may be restricted by evening. Neighbouring jurisdictions may adjust entry requirements or limit transit with little notice. Information may circulate rapidly on social media before it can be verified.

The most resilient organisations recognise that movement decisions must be conditions‑based, not schedule‑based. Rather than asking “Can we move people today?”, leaders need to ask:

  • What conditions would make movement unsafe tomorrow?
  • What alternatives exist if a primary route closes?
  • Are we prepared to shift from air to land, or to stabilise in place?

This approach requires planning optionality into every mobility decision.

Overlapping Risks Demand Integrated Decision‑Making

The convergence of crisis exposes one of the most common organisational gaps: mobility decisions are often segmented across functions. Security looks at threat levels, HR considers employee impact, travel teams focus on bookings, and IT monitors communications. In a converging‑risk environment, this fragmentation increases risk.

Mobility decisions must be informed by integrated intelligence, security assessments, aviation updates, border conditions, medical considerations and workforce sentiment. When these views are aligned into a single operating picture, organisations can act faster and with greater confidence.

This integrated approach is increasingly reflected in board‑level discussions, as highlighted in the Risk Outlook 2026, where executive oversight of crisis preparedness and workforce risk continues to rise.

The Human Layer Cannot Be Separated From Mobility

Overlapping crises do not only disrupt routes; they disrupt people. Uncertainty around travel amplifies stress, particularly for expatriates with families, employees traveling alone, or teams operating far from home support networks.

From an assistance perspective, we see that anxiety itself becomes a risk multiplier. Tired, stressed travelers are more likely to make poor decisions, rushing to airports prematurely, acting on unverified information, or attempting unsafe routing alternatives.

Mobility strategies must therefore incorporate psychological safety alongside physical safety. Clear guidance, predictable communication, and reassurance that decisions are being reviewed continuously make a material difference to outcomes.

Why “Move” Is Not Always the Right Answer

One of the most important shifts organisations are making is recognising that relocation or evacuation is not always the safest or most effective response. In converging‑risk scenarios, moving people can expose them to new uncertainties if the destination environment changes.

Stability, supported by shelter‑in‑place guidance, supply planning, and continuous monitoring, can be the safest posture while conditions clarify. Mobility planning should define three distinct postures:

  • Stay and stabilise
  • Relocate to a regional safe haven
  • Evacuate out of the region

Each posture requires different triggers, communications, and support mechanisms. Treating them interchangeably increases risk.

Information Discipline Is a Mobility Imperative

Overlapping crises generate noise. For organisations managing mobility, information discipline becomes critical. Decisions based on rumours, unverified social media posts, or outdated aviation updates can lead to unnecessary movement, or unsafe delay.

Effective organisations establish clear information pathways:

  • Who validates updates
  • Which sources are trusted
  • How frequently conditions are reviewed
  • When decisions are escalated

This discipline supports faster pivots when conditions change and reduces the emotional load on traveling employees.

Building Adaptive Mobility for the Future

The convergence of crisis in the Middle East is not a temporary phenomenon. Geopolitical volatility, climate stress, digital disruption, and workforce expectations will continue to intersect. Mobility strategies must evolve accordingly.

Resilient organisations are already adapting by:

  • Embedding workforce visibility into core systems
  • Designing mobility plans with multiple fail‑safe options
  • Training leaders to make people‑first decisions under pressure
  • Aligning crisis planning with broader enterprise risk management

As the Risk Outlook 2026 underscores, preparedness is no longer about predicting the next event, it’s about building the capacity to adapt when events collide.

A Redefined Measure of Readiness

In this new operating reality, mobility readiness is not measured by the ability to move people quickly, but by the ability to make calm, informed, and proportionate decisions as risks converge.

Organisations that understand this will be better positioned to protect their people, maintain operational stability, and navigate periods of regional tension with confidence rather than urgency. The convergence of crisis is challenging, but with the right structures, discipline, and integration, it is manageable.

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VERTIV EXPANDS THERMAL PORTFOLIO WITH NEW WALL-MOUNT COOLING SYSTEM FOR EDGE AND SMALL DATA ROOMS IN EMEA

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Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, today announced the launch of the Vertiv™ CoolPhase Wall, a space-saving, wall-mount cooling system designed for small IT spaces and edge environments. The system is designed for the needs of IT equipment, removing heat and enabling continuous operation while taking up zero floor space. Vertiv CoolPhase Wall is available now across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).


As distributed computing becomes more critical to business operations, compact IT environments need high-quality thermal control designed for sensitive electronic systems. However, many are still using comfort cooling systems designed for human comfort rather than addressing the high sensible heat ratio (SHR) and higher airflow requirements of IT equipment. Vertiv CoolPhase Wall addresses this gap with a purpose-built system that provides the required SHR along with integrated monitoring and control capabilities to protect equipment and enable24/7 operational continuity.

Built for installation flexibility, the Vertiv CoolPhase Wall features a split system with an indoor wall-mounted cooling unit. The system delivers up to 60% greater airflow than standard comfort cooling systems and leverages variable-speed compressors and variable speed fans to modulate to meet heat load demand and improve energy efficiency to enable operational cost reductions.


Designed to handle thermal loads up to 11 kW, the Vertiv CoolPhase Wall is engineered to operate reliably in outdoor ambient temperatures ranging from -35 to 48℃. The system features the Vertiv™ Liebert® iCOM™ operational control, which enables local configuration and supervision of key operating parameters. For extended visibility and remote access, the Vertiv CoolPhase Wall includes onboard remote communication capability to provide real-time alerts and operational status through a secure web interface.


The Vertiv™ CoolPhase Wall utilizes R-32 refrigerant, a low-global warming potential (GWP) alternative that reduces environmental impact while maintaining thermal performance. This positions Vertiv ahead of evolving regulatory requirements, including the European Union’s F-Gas regulations that restrict the use of high-GWP refrigerants. While many comfort cooling systems are still transitioning to lower-GWP options, Vertiv is applying these standards to IT-focused cooling, giving organizations confidence that their deployments are aligned with future environmental expectations.


“As IT continues to expand into areas that were not originally intended for high-density electronics, the demand for adaptable and energy-efficient cooling solutions is increasing across EMEA,” said Sam Bainborough, vice president, EMEA thermal business at Vertiv. “The Vertiv CoolPhase Wall is engineered to support continuous operations, enabling customers to maintain reliable, efficient thermal performance in small IT rooms and edge sites year-round.”


Vertiv CoolPhase Wall expands the company’s comprehensive thermal management portfolio, which includes precision cooling system for edge deployments, enterprise data centers, and high-density AI environments, ranging from room-based cooling to direct-to-chip liquid cooling and rear door exchangers.

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