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Amazon Web Services to open office in UAE
Amazon Web Services, (AWS) today announced plans to open an office in Dubai, with the support of the Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai, to accelerate the rapid adoption of cloud computing in the Middle East.
The office will open on January 1 and will support organisations of all sizes, from start-ups to government institutions and some of the Middle East’s historic and most established enterprises, as they make the transition to the AWS Cloud. Customers in the Middle East looking to learn more about working with AWS can visit https://aws.amazon.com/aws-me.
The new office provides account managers, solutions architects, partner managers, professional services consultants, support staff, and various other functions, for customers to directly engage with AWS in their local setting and in their language. It is further evidence of the growth of AWS around the world and continued investment in helping organisations everywhere accelerate their move to the cloud.
Middle Eastern organisations were amongst the earliest adopters of cloud services when AWS launched in 2006. Customers are using AWS to run everything from development and test environments to Big Data analytics, from mobile, web and social applications to enterprise business applications and mission critical workloads. AWS counts some of the UAE’s most well-known and fastest growing businesses as customers, including Dubizzle, PayFort and Careem, as well as government institutions and some of the largest companies in the Middle East, such as flydubai, Souq.com and Middle East Broadcasting Center.
“Dubai is a global hub for business, and at DED, we are committed to strengthening the investment environment further, and welcoming global companies to expand their presence in the region. Global technology and innovation leaders such as Amazon Web Services will play a key role in supporting future economic growth opportunities in the MENA region. The new AWS offices in Dubai will serve the growing demand for cloud technologies and accelerate the contribution of entrepreneurship and innovation to the UAE economy. We look forward to its positive impact on public and private organizations to drive the transformation towards efficient and innovative digital services as well as accelerate start-up success and SME growth,” said His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of Dubai Department of Economic Development.
“Organisations from the UAE are using the AWS Cloud to innovate, save substantial costs and operate more securely as they expand their businesses across the Middle East and around the world,” said Werner Vogels, CTO and Vice President, Amazon.com. “The decision to open an AWS office in Dubai marks our continued investment in supporting cloud adoption in the region and the appetite from organisations across the Middle East looking to get started with AWS. We are excited to work with even more Middle Eastern businesses and government organisations to help them expand their operations while maintaining industry-leading levels of reliability, privacy, and security.”
“The opening of the AWS MENA office in Dubai further underlines the positive growth environment of Dubai and our ability to attract inward investments. It will drive the adoption of cloud technologies as well as public and private sector innovation and competitiveness,” said Fahad Al Gergawi, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai FDI. “It will also lend impetus to the 4th Industrial revolution innovation in Dubai and the UAE, as well strategic initiatives to implement 3D printed buildings, Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles and the world’s first Hyperloop system connecting Dubai to Abu Dhabi creating regional and global opportunities for Deep Tech adoption and acceleration.”
Enterprises in the media and entertainment space also welcomed the new AWS office. Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC), the largest broadcaster in the UAE and the Middle East, is using AWS to run many of their digital services. In this context, Joe Igoe MBC’s Group Director of Technical Operations, said: “We are building MBC to be the digital broadcaster of the future. We use AWS to help us speed up innovation and rapidly expand into a wider range of digital services. Our commitment is to continue providing our viewers with high-quality unique multimedia experiences, while having the flexibility to scale services efficiently to keep up with audience growth.”
Another large company that is welcoming AWS’ expansion into UAE is the airline flydubai. As one of the leading airlines in the Middle East, flydubai understands the power cloud computing has to help companies to rapidly expand their businesses. Ramesh Venkat, Chief Informational Officer for flydubai said, “We appreciate the opportunities provided by cloud computing and are pleased to be working with AWS. AWS helps us to look beyond our existing IT infrastructure to deliver a highly available, consistent service to customers.”
Young, fast growing companies in the Middle East are also using AWS to rapidly grow their business to serve millions of customers across the region. One of these companies is Careem, the leading ride booking app in the Middle East and North Africa. “We have been using the scalability of AWS to help us to cope with rapid growth since we launched in 2012. After starting with one city, Dubai, we now serve millions of commuters in 43 cities across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. AWS has been key to this rapid growth and with the new AWS office in Dubai, with local staff, we will use their expertise to continue our growth to serve customers around the world,” said Magnus Olsson, Co-Founder of Careem.
Online companies in the UAE are also using AWS to transform how they serve their customers and run their business. One such company is Dubizzle, the leading online classifieds service in the Arabic speaking Middle East. Barry Judge, General Manager at Dubizzle said, “AWS has enabled us to rapidly scale our business while maintaining high levels of security and availability for our customers. Having access to the AWS team in our region will help us to continue our rapid growth across the Middle East and North Africa.”
AWS also has a growing network of technology and consulting AWS Partner Network (APN) Partners in the Middle East helping customers get the most from the cloud. These partners include global organizations like CSC as well as prominent regional players like Redington. Ramkumar Balakrishnan, President – VAD business at Redington said of the news, “We have chosen to work with AWS so that we can provide our customers with a secure, reliable and flexible platform. Having an AWS team in the region for us to work with is great news and will help us move even more customers to the cloud.”
News
Big Ticket joins DP World ILT20 Season 4 as Official Partner
Big Ticket, the largest and longest-running guaranteed raffle draw in the Middle East (known for cash prizes, dream luxury cars, gold bars and coins) has joined the DP World International League T20 Season 4 as an Official Partner.
In recent years, Big Ticket has become more than just a raffle, it has gained the reputation of being a brand built around rewarding dreams and celebrating ambition, growing into one of the region’s largest and one of the most anticipated monthly draws in the UAE.
DP World ILT20 – the 34-match cricketing extravaganza – the biggest T20 tournament in the region featuring some of the most renowned global cricket stars is currently being played at the Dubai International Stadium, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

DP World ILT20 Head of Partnerships Ishan Chopra: “We are delighted to welcome a UAE born raffle giant like Big Ticket as an Official Partner of the DP World ILT20. Their legacy of helping dreams come true aligns perfectly with our vision of delivering unforgettable, fan-first experiences across the league. This partnership strengthens our commitment to creating moments of excitement both on and off the field, and we look forward to elevating Season 4 together. With a household name like Big Ticket on board, we are confident of unlocking even more opportunities for fans to engage, celebrate and go All In for Cricket.”
Meanwhile, DP World ILT20 match tickets across all categories are available for the remaining tournament matches. Various spectator stand tickets start at AED 20 and hospitality packages start from AED 325. Fans can also book the new Sixes Lounge experience for AED 395, which includes unlimited food and beverages. Tickets can be purchased by visiting tickets.ilt20.ae or Virgin Megastores.
News
The Maritime Standard Awards 2025 winners list showcases high levels of innovation and operational excellence across the maritime sector
The maritime sector’s leading awards event, The Maritime Standard (TMS) Awards 2025, has announced this year’s winners, honoring outstanding companies and industry leaders from across the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. The Awards showcased achievement and innovation in 25 categories covering shipping, logistics, ship repair, offshore services, marine technology and related sectors, as well as a series of special awards for individual achievement. The prestigious event took place at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai on October 29th, attracting over 1000 senior executives, decision-makers and industry leaders, from the region, and across the globe.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the event recognised organisations and individuals for setting new standards in operational excellence and leadership in the sector amid significant shifts in the industry, including decarbonisation, digitalization, and a renewed emphasis on supply chain resilience. From clean-fuel projects and AI-powered port operations to international collaborations that boost trade efficiency, the 2025 Awards showcased the industry’s progress in turning goals into tangible outcomes.
The evening was hosted by Yalda Hakim, a renowned international correspondent and documentary filmmaker, whose engaging presence added distinction to the occasion. The keynote address was delivered by Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC Logistics and Services, who shared valuable insights on the evolving maritime landscape and the UAE’s leadership in advancing sustainable and innovative practices across the sector.
Clive Woodbridge, Editor of The Maritime Standard and Chairman of the Judging Panel, stated, “This year’s competition was exceptionally tough, and we received an unprecedented number of entries across all categories. Each finalist demonstrated remarkable achievements and operational standards over the past year, which underlines the significant advances that continue to be made in the regional maritime sector.”
A rigorous assessment process was conducted as part of the award selections, and this was supervised by an independent panel of distinguished judges that included some of the most prominent names in the maritime industry.
Trevor Pereira, Managing Director of The Maritime Standard, commented, “These Awards are not just about celebrating success, but also about encouraging excellence. This year’s event recognised innovative concepts, exciting new initiatives, and outstanding performance standards. As the region continues to expand its maritime infrastructure and digital port systems, with significant developments across the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, events like The Maritime Standard Awards play a key role in reinforcing its position as a global leader in shipping and maritime.”
Reaction from the individual winners on the night of October 29th was highly appreciative. Captain Mohamed Al Ali, Senior Vice President, Operations (Offshore Logistics), at ADNOC L&S, who received the Outstanding Achievement Award, added: “It was one of the greatest honours of my professional career to receive this Award. It really means a lot to me to have TMS recognise the years of dedication and hard work.”
Tony Dagher, the Founder and Managing Director of TMC Shipping Group was the recipient of the Young Person in Shipping and was similarly honoured. He said: “I have been fortunate to have had great support from many people during my journey in shipping, and to have a fantastic team around me now. This Award is as much for them as it is for me.
Over the past 12 years The Maritime Standard Awards has consolidated its standing as one of the most prominent annual gatherings within the global maritime calendar, gaining worldwide recognition for recognising excellence and promoting a more resilient and sustainable maritime future.

News
Deep Dive Dubai Launches Sunken City Walk, a Cinematic Underwater Experience that Makes Adventure Just a Step Away
Deep Dive Dubai has unveiled its newest attraction for experience seekers with the launch of Sunken City Walk. The guided underwater activity invites guests to step into a cinematic cityscape filled with surreal details. From an underwater swing and motorbike to a café table that looks straight out of a movie scene, this is Dubai’s latest must-try attraction.

The hour-long journey begins with a full briefing and safety overview, followed by guests changing into wetsuits and equipment provided on-site. They then join trained instructors for a 20-minute guided underwater walk through the Sunken City—an accessible, certification-free experience that requires no swimming skills, making it ideal for guests aged 10 and above. Currently offered at an introductory price of AED 600, with an optional 30-second keepsake video for AED 200, the experience is currently available in four daily slots at 11 AM, 12 PM, 2pm, and 3pm.
Jarrod Jablonski, Director, Deep Dive Dubai, said that “With Sunken City Walk, we’re continuing to shape Dubai’s reputation as a city of unforgettable experiences. It’s a unique attraction that reflects Dubai’s spirit, where visitors can discover adventure in ways they never thought possible.”
The launch reflects a global trend that travellers are choosing experiences over possessions. Supporting this, Shamal’s Experience Economy Report stated that 75% of UAE residents are more willing to spend on experiences, with 80% allocating a dedicated monthly budget. The launch also aligns with Dubai’s commitment to strengthening its global tourism appeal. According to Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the city welcomed 9.88 million international visitors in the first half of 2025, a six percent increase year-on-year, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading lifestyle and tourism hubs. Sunken City Walk at Deep Dive Dubai adds a new way for visitors to experience the city’s spirit of reinvention, where adventure is always just a step away.
While Sunken City Walk offers a first taste of underwater adventure, guests can plunge into the incredible world of diving at Deep Dive Dubai, choosing from experiences such as scuba diving, freediving, and specialised diving courses.
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