By: Naorus Abdulghani, Group Chief Technology Officer, Beyond ONE

The GCC region stands at the cusp of a digital renaissance, driven by ambitious initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s digital transformation goals. This vision promises a future where technology and innovation empower individuals, businesses, and communities, driving unprecedented growth and prosperity. However, to fully unlock this potential, a crucial challenge must be addressed: the benefits of the digital age are accessible to all.

While the GCC is making significant strides in technological advancement, a digital divide persists, limiting the participation of certain segments of the population in the digital economy. From rural communities and migrant workers to lower socioeconomic groups and SMEs, many face barriers to accessing reliable and affordable connectivity. This disparity not only hinders individual progress but also hampers the region’s overall digital transformation.

The inability to connect at the speeds necessary to utilize today’s digital tools can derail any attempt to improve access to services like fintech, edtech, and health-tech, particularly outside of major cities where network speeds can vary greatly. It’s like trying to navigate a modern highway with a horse and cart – the journey is not just slow, it’s impossible. If success in becoming the world’s leading digital economy is achieved, individuals and businesses need to be empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Telecom operators, as the architects of the region’s digital infrastructure, have an opportunity to bridge this divide and accelerate progress. By evolving from traditional telcos to techcos, they can offer a broader range of services beyond connectivity, empowering individuals and businesses to thrive in the digital age. This transformation requires a shift in mindset, from a focus on infrastructure alone to a broader vision of enabling digital inclusion and a more connected and empowered society.

This transformation demands a radical rethinking of personalization and inclusivity. It’s about understanding the unique needs of diverse communities and tailoring solutions that cater to their specific requirements. It’s about recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer sufficient in a world where digital access is as essential as electricity or water. It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to explore the digital world without limitations.

The future of digital services lies in creating an integrated ecosystem that seamlessly connects people, businesses, and governments. This ecosystem should provide access to a range of services, from high-speed internet and cloud computing to fintech, edtech, and health-tech solutions. It should be built on a foundation of robust and reliable infrastructure, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the power of technology.

Imagine a world where a rural farmer can access the same financial tools as an urban entrepreneur, where students in a remote village can receive the same quality of education as those in a major city, and where healthcare services are readily available to everyone, regardless of their location. This is the potential of a truly inclusive digital ecosystem, one that echoes the spirit of exploration and connection that has always been at the heart of human progress.

The transition from telco to techco is undoubtedly challenging. It requires significant investment in infrastructure, innovation, and talent development. It also necessitates a shift in mindset, from a focus on connectivity alone to a broader vision of enabling digital empowerment. But the rewards of this transformation are immense.

By closing the digital divide and accelerating the region’s digital transformation, telecom operators can unlock new growth opportunities, drive innovation, and contribute to a more equitable and prosperous future for all. They can become the catalysts for change, empowering individuals and businesses to thrive in the digital age and helping the GCC region achieve its ambitious vision of becoming a global digital leader.

Wio Securities LLC has expanded its offerings on Wio Invest by introducing a comprehensive range of new features. The latest expansion empowers UAE residents to seamlessly access a diverse portfolio of investment options, including stocks in UAE and US markets, ETFs, fractional shares, and virtual assets.

With over $2 billion in processed volumes this year alone, and nearly 40% of the Wio Invest customer base converting from traditional brokerage services, the platform is rapidly becoming the investment platform of choice in the UAE. Wio Invest is driving the shift towards diversified investments within a secure and regulated framework, making it easier for UAE residents to manage their portfolios efficiently.

“We are thrilled to expand our investment offerings through Wio Invest, reinforcing our commitment to providing innovative and secure solutions for our customers,” said Marwan Rashed BinHashim, General Manager, Wio Securities LLC. “Our vision is to become the simplest one-stop-shop investment platform of choice by offering a diverse range of investments that cater to all types of investors, coupled with a best-in-class user experience.”

Wio Invest’s new features are designed to enhance the investment experience. Recurring Orders allow investors to grow their portfolio on their schedule by automating investments, helping them steadily build their wealth without the stress of market timing. Analyst Ratings provide users with expert opinions and ratings from top financial institutions, enabling more informed investment decisions.

The platform also offers UAE residents access to a variety of virtual assets within Wio Securities’ secure and regulated environment, in partnership with Fuze. This collaboration ensures secure transactions, enabling Wio Invest customers to safely explore and diversify their portfolios with new safer asset classes, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple.

Operating under a robust regulatory framework, Wio Invest is fully regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), ensuring that all transactions are secure. The continued collaboration between the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and Wio Securities provides a trusted and controlled environment for UAE residents, reinforcing Wio Invest’s commitment to investor protection and confidence in all investment offerings, as emphasized by the company’s general manager.

Designed with simplicity and security in mind, Wio Invest offers a seamless and intuitive interface that simplifies portfolio management. Whether investing in traditional or virtual assets, the platform provides a streamlined user journey from sign-up to investment, catering to the needs of modern investors.

By combining regulatory assurance, diverse investment options, and a user-friendly experience, Wio Invest is redefining the investment landscape in the UAE, positioning itself as a leader in the region’s evolving financial sector.

Salesforce has officially inaugurated its new office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai Internet City. The company’s expansion in Dubai is part of its commitment to support AI innovation, customer success and growth in the UAE.

The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Omar Sultan AlOlama, Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, Malek Al Malek, Chairman of TECOM Group PJSC, and Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group, alongside Salesforce executives, other key customers and representatives from the company’s thriving partner ecosystem.

The launch of Salesforce’s new state-of-the-art office at Dubai Internet City, a leading technology hub, builds on the company’s ongoing investment in the UAE. Last year, Salesforce made Hyperforce, the company’s trusted cloud platform, generally available in the UAE in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This year the company achieved the Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC) Cloud Service Provider (CSP) Security Standard for Salesforce Services on Hyperforce in the UAE to support government and public sector entities.

Salesforce is experiencing rapid growth in the UAE as more companies invest in AI-driven digital transformation and look to partner with Salesforce as a trusted AI partner. The new office, with its collaboration and innovation spaces, will enable Salesforce to showcase its latest AI technology innovations and better serve local customers.

At Dreamforce, Salesforce unveiled Agentforce, a groundbreaking suite of autonomous AI agents that augment employees and handle tasks in service, sales, marketing, and commerce, helping to drive unprecedented efficiency and customer satisfaction. These agents are integrated on Salesforce apps and leverage real-time data from Salesforce’s Data Cloud to deliver accurate, personalized, and automated responses. They can perform complex business processes autonomously, significantly reducing manual workload and enhancing productivity​.

“I am thrilled to introduce Salesforce’s latest transformative AI-driven solutions to the UAE, and the entire team is eager to collaborate with customers and showcase how these best-of-breed solutions unlock new possibilities,” said Srini Tallapragada, President and Chief Engineering Officer, Salesforce. “The Salesforce Platform, with Data Cloud at its center, enables Agentforce and every Salesforce app to deliver seamless, AI-powered experiences across every customer touchpoint.”

“Our new presence in Dubai Internet City further strengthens our dedication to serving customers in the UAE. We are especially excited to bring the AI innovations announced at Dreamforce empowering public and private sector organizations to thrive by leveraging AI and cloud-based solutions to optimize data use, enhance agility and truly prioritize customer centricity,” said Thierry Nicault, Area Vice President and General Manager, Salesforce Middle East. “Additionally, our participation in Gitex later this month further underscores this commitment, as we continue to engage with the region’s most forward-thinking enterprises to drive the next wave of digital transformation.”

“Salesforce’s launch strengthens our nations’ legacy of collaborative advancement and signifies a long-term investment in the digitally enabled knowledge economy, which Dubai Internet City has nurtured for more than two decades. Its expansion in our district is a profoundly positive move that will help unlock the UAE’s and Dubai’s vision for inclusive, sustainable progress and talent development, in line with the goals of Dubai Economic Agenda D33,” said Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group, and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City. “Technological collaboration is enriching the shared vision for collective prosperity that has underpinned the UAE-US economic corridor for more than 50 years. We are delighted to welcome Salesforce to our ecosystem, the region’s leading technology hub.”