Synology, a global technology company that enables businesses to manage, secure, and protect their data, unveiled a series of product updates at COMPUTEX 2026 across data management, backup and recovery, surveillance, businessproductivity, and private cloud environments. The latest updates address growing requirements among GCC organizations for stronger cyber resilience, data governance, and AI-driven operations.

The innovations include the next generation of DiskStation Manager (DSM), ActiveProtect Manager 2.0, the new DP5200 appliance, expanded surveillance and access control solutions, new additions to Synology Office Suite, and updates to the Bee Series private cloud ecosystem.

The updates come as organizations across the Middle East, particularly in the GCC, reassess how they manage rapidly growing data volumes, secure increasingly distributed infrastructure, prepare for AI workloads, and improve recovery readiness across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. According to industry forecasts, IT spending in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach USD 169 billion in 2026, representing an 8.9 percent increase from 2025, while end-user spending on information security is projected to reach USD 4 billion in 2026.

Philip Wong, Chairman and CEO of Synology, stated: “Data is at the heart of everything we build, and trust is the foundation. From enterprise infrastructure to personal cloud solutions, we develop every product to give users complete control over their data, backed by uncompromising security, reliability, and privacy, so they can embrace what’s next with confidence.”

For regional businesses, the announcements reflect a broader shift in technology priorities as AI adoption accelerates and organizations seek greater control over how data is stored, governed, protected, and recovered across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments.

Mike Chen, Senior Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East, Synology, added: “As Middle Eastern enterprises navigate increasingly complex data landscapes, the demand for heightened visibility, governance, and operational resilience has intensified. Our latest enhancements across DSM, ActiveProtect, and our broader enterprise portfolio directly address these requirements. Together, these updates establish a secure data management framework, guarantee business continuity through recovery readiness, and deliver the infrastructure vital for future AI initiatives.”

The next generation of DSM introduces capabilities designed for both AI-ready and enterprise-scale environments. With support for GPU-powered NAS systems and AI appliances, organizations can enable on-premises AI inference and governance while maintaining full control over their data infrastructure. Synology has also introduced DSM Agent to automate and orchestrate workflows across systems, while Cluster Manager provides centralized management for large-scale deployments, including workload migration, quality-of-service controls, and unified protection management. Additional enhancements include Active Insight’s Mass Deployment feature for faster multi-site provisioning and an upgraded Log Center to improve observability, compliance, and security monitoring.

Synology also introduced ActiveProtect Manager 2.0, extending backup and recovery support to AWS EC2, Azure VM, Proxmox, Nutanix AHV, and Google Workspace. The platform enables cross-platform recovery across hybrid cloud and virtualized infrastructures and introduces AI-powered anomaly and malware detection capabilities to help organizations identify threats and strengthen recovery preparedness. Complementing the platform, the new DP5200 appliance expands the ActiveProtect portfoliowith an additional deployment option for centralized data protection.

Further expanding its surveillance ecosystem, Synology introduced new access control solutions, including the AC100 door controller and AR Series readers, alongside new DC Series dome cameras and Deep Video Analytics appliances featuring AI-powered semantic event search and re-identification path tracking. The company also unveiled Surveillance365, a video surveillance-as-a-service (VSaaS) offering that integrates with on-premises Surveillance Station deployments, enabling hybrid cloud monitoring for remote and multi-site environments. The solution is designed for organizations requiring remote and multi-site security monitoring, and other distributed environments where centralized security management is becoming increasingly important.

In business productivity, Synology expanded its Office Suite with the introduction of ChatPlus and Meet, bringing secure communication and virtual meeting capabilities under organizational control. Both solutions feature AI-powered transcription and translation while keeping data stored on-premises, enabling organizations to enhance business productivity without compromising governance or privacy requirements.

For individuals and homes, Synology announced updates to its BeeStation and BeeStation Plus offerings, further expanding storage options. New features include BeeCamera, which enables home monitoring through BeeStation Plus using Synology cameras, and Synology Deep Search, an AI-powered local search function for macOS and Windows that allows users to quickly find and manage personal content while maintaining complete privacy and local data ownership.

Together, these product updates reinforce Synology’s commitment to helping organizations and individuals manage, protect, and maximize the value of their data in an increasingly AI-driven world.

InterContinental Residences Business Bay has announced the appointment of Chef Vincent Gadaud as its new Cluster Executive Chef, overseeing culinary operations across InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai, effective 1^st May 2026. 

This appointment marks a significant step in strengthening the culinary direction and overall guest experience across both properties. As InterContinental Residences Business Bay continues to position itself as a leading residential destination in Dubai and with Kimpton Sevn Dubai bringing its distinct, design-led lifestyle approach to the market, this appointment reinforces a shared commitment to delivering distinctive dining experiences rooted in quality and detail.

Chef Vincent brings over 20 years of international experience across luxury hotels and fine dining establishments in Europe, Japan and the Middle East. A highly accomplished F&B Director and Executive Chef, he is recognised for his ability to seamlessly combine culinary creativity with operational excellence, consistently driving both guest satisfaction and commercial performance.

Most recently, Chef Vincent served as F&B Director and Executive Chef at ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort in Japan, where he oversaw the full scope of culinary and service operations across multiple outlets, managing a team of over 140 professionals. During his tenure, he successfully led sustained top-line growth, significantly increasing revenue while improving departmental profitability, alongside spearheading concept development, menu transformation and brand positioning initiatives.

His career spans a number of prestigious roles, including Executive Chef at ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka and The St. Regis Osaka, as well as leading Ladurée’s London operations across Harrods and Covent Garden. He has also played a key role in multiple pre-openings and brand expansions internationally, demonstrating a strong capability in building concepts from the ground up and aligning them with market expectations.

Chef Vincent’s culinary philosophy is shaped by extensive global travel and a deep appreciation for local food cultures, ingredients and techniques. His approach balances precision with intuition, bringing together refined execution with a genuine sense of warmth and accessibility.

Commenting on his appointment, Chef Vincent Gadaud said, “Joining InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai is an exciting opportunity to contribute to two concepts that value both quality and experience. My focus is on building strong foundations within the kitchen, nurturing talent and creating dishes that feel intuitive, honest and memorable for our guests.”

Beyond the professional kitchen, Chef Vincent maintains a strong personal connection to food, often cooking in a more relaxed and instinctive setting for family and friends. An avid traveller, he continues to draw inspiration from discovering new cultures and culinary traditions, while staying active through outdoor pursuits and exploring new destinations with his family.

At the heart of his leadership philosophy is a commitment to team development and mentorship, having guided many individuals throughout his career into leadership roles.

Speaking on the new development, Cluster General Manager of InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai, Mohamed Mahmoud said, “Chef Vincent’s appointment reflects our vision for InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai as destinations that deliver not only exceptional living and lifestyle experiences, but also refined and meaningful dining. His global expertise, strong leadership and proven track record make him a valuable addition to the team and we are confident he will play a key role in shaping our culinary identity.”

Guests and residents can expect to see the first expressions of Chef Vincent’s culinary direction in the coming months, with thoughtfully developed menus and experiences that reflect both his expertise and the propertys’ elevated positioning.

This appointment marks an important milestone for InterContinental Residences Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai as they continue to enhance their offerings and redefine modern residential and lifestyle hospitality in Dubai.

As the UAE accelerates efforts around food security, landfill diversion and circular economy infrastructure, Dubai-based sustainability business The Waste Lab is strengthening its operations across the Emirates to meet growing demand for practical, measurable food waste solutions across the hospitality, corporate, education and F&B sectors.

Founded by Lara Hussein and Ceylan Uren, The Waste Lab has grown from a startup into a licensed end-to-end food waste management and composting platform working with organisations including Accor, Jumeirah, Hyatt, Emirates Flight Catering, Dubai Holding, Expo City Dubai and Dubai World Trade Centre.

The business provides segregation-at-source systems, food waste collection, composting, sustainability reporting and impact tracking through a fully managed model designed to help businesses reduce landfill waste and better understand their environmental footprint. Food waste collected from hotels, offices, schools, restaurants and communities is processed at The Waste Lab’s composting facility in Al Ain, where it is converted into locally produced compost and regenerative soil solutions. It is the only operator in the UAE that closes the full loop – from bin to compost to soil.

The company says momentum around sustainability regulation and ESG accountability is rapidly changing how businesses approach food waste management in the UAE, particularly as landfill diversion and operational reporting become increasingly important across major sectors.

The UAE’s Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects marks a turning point for businesses operating across the country. The first of its kind in the MENA region, the law shifts climate accountability from voluntary commitment to legal obligation, requiring businesses across designated sectors to measure, report and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, with penalties of up to AED 2 million for non-compliance. Critically, integrated waste management is explicitly named as an approved emissions reduction pathway, meaning food waste is no longer just an operational afterthought, it is a regulated liability. The Waste Lab was built for exactly this moment. Its end-to-end model, covering segregation at source, collection, composting and verified impact reporting, gives businesses a single, fully managed pathway to meet their legal obligations and demonstrate measurable progress. What was once a sustainability choice is now a legal one and The Waste Lab makes compliance straightforward.

According to The Waste Lab, nearly 40% of food in the UAE still ends up in landfill despite the country importing the majority of its food, while around 90% of compost used locally is imported, highlighting a significant gap between food waste generation and local resource recovery. With the UAE importing most of its food and almost all of its compost, locally produced alternatives are not just an environmental benefit, they are a food security and supply chain priority. The business believes composting will play a far bigger role in supporting local food systems, soil regeneration and circular economy goals in the years ahead.

Alongside its operational growth, The Waste Lab is developing a proprietary mobile application that will bring automation, AI-enablement and end-to-end data capture across the full waste management chain. The platform is designed to give clients deeper, real-time visibility into their food waste footprint, providing granular reporting on waste volumes, contamination rates and sustainability impact to help businesses track and report ESG performance and identify operational inefficiencies with greater precision.

A locally produced B2B compost product is also planned for commercial launch by end of 2026, completing the circular loop of its operations. Food waste collected from UAE businesses is composted and returned to UAE soil creating a traceable, locally produced alternative to the imported organic compost that currently dominates the market, and supporting the kind of soil regeneration the country’s agricultural and landscaping sectors urgently need.

Lara Hussein, Co-Founder and CEO of The Waste Lab, said: “Food waste is one of the UAE’s most urgent environmental challenges, yet composting remains one of the most practical and underutilised solutions available today. Businesses are increasingly looking for systems that are measurable, compliant and operationally realistic, especially as sustainability targets become more closely tied to reporting, regulation and long-term business strategy. The UAE’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, ne’ma, has set a target to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, and achieving that requires local infrastructure and scalable solutions that work in the real world. Our role is to make food waste diversion simpler, traceable and commercially viable while helping create healthier soil, stronger local food systems and long-term environmental impact.”

Beyond its commercial operations, The Waste Lab also works alongside ne’ma, Dubai Municipality, Emirates Foundation and Dubai Chambers on wider sustainability and environmental awareness initiatives across the UAE.

As part of its next phase of growth, the business is expanding operations across additional emirates while progressing plans for Saudi Arabia through a joint venture model. The company is also currently raising its seed round to support infrastructure, technology development and regional expansion.