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How this Dubai company built a 1,000+ strong workforce to become one of the UAE’s largest private sector employers in just two decades

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Data Direct Group

In an era defined by digital transformation and workforce localisation, Data Direct Group has emerged as one of the UAE’s largest and most enduring private employers.

Founded in 2002 with a vision to offer reliable, locally grounded customer experience (CX) solutions, Data Direct Group recently surpassed 1,000 + employee milestone in the UAE alone. The company, today employs, more than 1500 people across four GCC countries, quietly redefining what sustainable private sector impact looks like – with a workforce that today represents 35+ nationalities.

“Our story is Dubai’s story — built on ambition, innovation, and a belief in people,” said Rajiv Dalmia, Founder and Chairman of Data Direct Group that marks 23 years of operations this month. “When we started over two decades ago, back in 2002, we had a clear focus: build a company that not only delivers operational excellence but also contributes meaningfully to the economy and society around us. That vision has stayed the same.”

Supporting On-Shore Employment and Emiratisation

In an industry often driven by offshore outsourcing, Data Direct Group has doubled down on creating meaningful, on-shore employment opportunities within the UAE. Its diverse portfolio includes call centre services, digital onboarding, and IT support — all delivered by a workforce physically present in the country and trained to global standards.

“Our journey reflects not only business resilience, but a deep-rooted commitment to on-shore job creation, inclusivity, and economic value generation,” said Dalmia explaining how this ‘localisation drive’ has allowed the company to support both government and private sector entities across the UAE while aligning with national initiatives such as Emiratisation.

“We’ve never believed in exporting jobs; we’ve always believed in exporting  knowledge and capabilities,” Dalmia noted. “That’s why we’ve invested heavily in building local talent — our growth is measured not just in numbers, but in lives uplifted and careers shaped.”

A True UAE-Grown Success Story

With its roots deeply embedded in Dubai, Data Direct Group has become a textbook example of homegrown enterprise success. From early challenges to regional expansion, the company has retained its core commitment to service, speed, and scalability.

Today, it is trusted by leading names in banking, healthcare, government services, utilities, logistics, and telecom, delivering bespoke business solutions that enhance customer experience and drive digital agility.

“The UAE allowed us to dream big. The leadership here created an ecosystem where entrepreneurs like myself could build something real and long-lasting,” Dalmia said.

One of the UAE’s Largest Employers in its Category

Employing more than 1,500 people in the region and growing, Data Direct Group has carved out a reputation not only for its size but also for its inclusive work environment. With more than 35 nationalities represented, the company mirrors the cosmopolitan fabric of the UAE itself.

“We don’t just talk diversity — we live it every day,” said Dalmia. “Whether it’s a young graduate from Sharjah or a systems analyst from India, we’ve built a space where people from all backgrounds, walks of life and academic qualifications can grow and lead.”

The company’s female participation has also grown steadily over the past decade, particularly in middle-management and client delivery roles — a focus area it aims to accelerate in the coming years.

Driving Economic Impact Beyond Numbers

Beyond employment figures, Data Direct Group plays a pivotal role in supporting the business infrastructure of the UAE and wider GCC. From managing millions of customer interactions to helping clients streamline operations, the company’s services are woven into the fabric of everyday business in the region.

This impact translates to cost-efficiencies, customer satisfaction, and scalable support for public services — key drivers of GDP contribution in UAE’s digital economy.

“Economic impact is not just about revenue — it’s about relevance,” Dalmia added.

“The fact that we’ve been around for over two decades, evolving every step of the way, is proof that you can be relevant, resilient, and responsible — all at once.”

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AI and Data Roles Drive Gulf Hiring Growth: RemotePass report

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Hiring growth in the UAE and Saudi Arabia remains among the strongest globally, at 39% and 26% respectively in 2024–25, but the expansion is increasingly concentrated in a narrower set of roles, according to the RemotePass 2025 Hiring Report.

Data from the report shows outsized growth in specialised roles, with Data Scientist hiring up 43% and AI Product Manager demand rising 37%. The concentration of growth in these functions indicates that organisations are directing hiring investment toward specific capabilities rather than expanding uniformly across all technology roles.

This pattern reflects a shift in regional workforce strategy, with employers increasingly directing resources toward roles that support data-driven decision-making, AI deployment, and product execution, rather than scaling traditional technology teams.

AI and Data Roles Redefine Hiring Priorities

The UAE leads globally in AI hiring growth, rising from 32% in 2023–24 to 48% in 2024–25. The acceleration is among the sharpest recorded in any market and is being fuelled by enterprise AI adoption, fintech automation and large-scale digital infrastructure projects. Saudi Arabia shows a similar direction of travel, though at a steadier pace, as AI talent demand expands across both public and private sectors.

RemotePass Co-founder and CEO Kamal Reggad, said the data shows organisations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia moving decisively from experimentation to execution. AI is no longer confined to innovation teams, he noted, but is increasingly embedded into core business functions, making workforce planning a critical lever of competitiveness.

MENA Talent Hubs Continue to Power the GCC

While demand is strongest in the Gulf, the wider MENA region remains central to meeting it. Egypt continues to lead hiring volume across nearly every major tech role, including software engineering, backend, frontend, data science and QA, confirming its position as the region’s largest tech talent exporter. Pakistan ranks second across several engineering categories, supported by a large and cost-effective developer base.

Egypt’s AI hiring growth, after surging by 112% in the previous year, has stabilised at 28% in 2025. In contrast, Gulf markets have accelerated, reinforcing a regional realignment in which the UAE and Saudi Arabia are emerging as the primary centres of advanced technology hiring, supported by a broader MENA talent ecosystem.

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GCC RESIDENTIAL SMART SECURITY MARKET SET TO ADVANCE AS SCREENCHECK PARTNERS WITH BAS-IP

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A ScreenCheck representative and a BAS-IP representative shake hands in front of a display showcasing BAS-IP intercom and security devices, with two additional team members standing beside them at an exhibition booth.

ScreenCheck, a subsidiary of Centena Group and a key player offering end-to-end identification and security solutions in the Middle East, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with global security technologies company, BAS-IP to officially expand its security and identification capabilities into GCC’s residential security market.

The agreement signed during Intersec 2026, aligns with ScreenCheck’s ongoing efforts to establish a robust position in the rapidly growing smart security and digital transformation market. Currently, the market is projected to reach USD 907.12 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 25.7 per cent between 2025 and 2032. This growth is mainly propelled by large-scale urban development, smart infrastructure investments and surging demand for connected security ecosystems in the residential sector.

Olga Shamilova, Chief Executive Officer at BAS-IP, said: “We are delighted to partner with ScreenCheck and support their entry into this new vertical of security systems. During our participation at Intersec 2026, we witnessed increased interest for our Open API, especially for its ability to create seamless, customised ecosystems and ease to integrate into existing building management systems. Our mobile-first application also received significant attention, as its intuitive interface was proven ideal for both complex multi-apartment projects and luxury private villas. With ScreenCheck’s market expertise in the region and their top tier client base, we look forward to providing a safe and secure environment for communities.”

The collaboration with BAS-IP will address the surging demand from developers for connected home and community security solutions across apartments, gated communities and large residential developments in the region by delivering integrated IP-based audio and video intercom systems combined with access control solutions.

Faisal Mohamed, CEO of ScreenCheck, said: “As cities continue to develop and digital infrastructure becomes an inevitable part of everyday lives, security is equally important for people and systems. We are delighted to work with BAS-IP to serve this evolving market.”

“With the Middle East region experiencing one of the fastest-growing property markets across the globe, our collaboration helps to distribute integrated residential security and home automation solutions. We will be delivering cutting-edge biometric identification, RFID solutions, AI-powered surveillance, and next-generation smart access control to homes, critical infrastructure, and technology-driven enterprises. Our goal is to enable safer, more resilient spaces that highlight the capabilities of the modern security landscape,” added Faisal.

ScreenCheck’s partnership with BAS-IP positions the company at the forefront of the region’s ongoing shift, enabling the delivery of intelligent, connected residential security ecosystems that align with the region’s smart city ambitions and evolving urban landscape.

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VERTIV INTRODUCES NEW MODULAR LIQUID COOLING INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTION TO SUPPORT HIGH-DENSITY COMPUTE REQUIREMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA AND EMEA

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Isometric 3D rendering of Vertiv prefabricated MegaMod HDX data center module showing integrated liquid cooling skids, power distribution units, racks, piping, and cooling infrastructure arranged within modular enclosures.

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, today announced new configurations of the Vertiv™ MegaMod™ HDX, a prefabricated power and liquid cooling infrastructure solution engineered for high-density computing environments, including artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) deployments. The new configurations give operators flexibility to support rapidly increasing power and cooling requirements while optimizing space and deployment speed. The models are available globally.

Vertiv MegaMod HDX integrates direct-to-chip liquid cooling with air-cooled architectures to meet the intense thermal demands of AI workloads, supporting pod-style AI environments and advanced GPU clusters. The new compact solution has a standard module height and a maximum of 13 racks and power capacity up to 1.25 MW; the combo solution has an extended-height design with a maximum of 144 racks, supporting power capacities up to 10 MW. Both can support rack densities from 50 kW up to more than 100 kW per rack. The hybrid cooling architectures integrate direct-to-chip liquid cooling with air cooling for efficient, high-density thermal management, while the prefabricated modular designs enable accelerated deployment and allow customers to scale their data centers as demand grows.

“Today’s AI workloads demand cooling solutions that go beyond traditional approaches. With the Vertiv MegaMod HDX available in both compact and combo solution configurations, organizations can match their facility requirements while supporting high-density, liquid-cooled environments at scale. Our designs deliver what data centers need most—reliable performance, operational efficiency, and the ability to scale their AI infrastructure with confidence,” said Viktor Petik, senior vice president, infrastructure solutions at Vertiv.

The Vertiv MegaMod HDX models feature innovative hybrid cooling architecture, combining direct-to-chip liquid cooling with adaptable air systems in a fully integrated, prefabricated pod. The solutions feature distributed redundant power architecture enabling continuous operation even if one module goes offline. Additionally, the buffer-tank thermal backup system allows GPU clusters to maintain stable operations during maintenance or load transitions. This factory-integrated design enables repeatable precision in deployment while providing cost certainty for planning and scaling AI infrastructure.

This prefabricated design, combined with factory integrated and fully tested components and Vertiv’s global service network, provide dependable end-to-end support.

Vertiv’s extensive portfolio of power, thermal, and IT management solutions supports a wide range of data center architectures, enabling customers to meet rising density demands with scalable, high-performance infrastructure. Both configurations draw on this broader portfolio, including the Vertiv™ Liebert® APM2 uninterruptible power supply (UPS), Vertiv CoolChip CDU cooling distribution unit, Vertiv PowerBar busway system, and Vertiv™ Unify infrastructure monitoring.

Vertiv also offers IT rack infrastructure designed to seamlessly accommodate and support IT systems, including Vertivracks and Vertiv OCP- compliant racks, Vertiv™ CoolLoop RDHx rear door heat exchanger, Vertiv™ CoolChip in-rack CDU, Vertiv™ rack power distribution units, Vertiv™ PowerDirect in-rack DC power system, and Vertiv™ CoolChip Fluid Network Rack Manifolds.

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