Dubai Cloud and Datacenter Convention & Awards 2024

Which are the key technology trends that will shape data centers in the UAE and across the region over the next few years? What will be the impacts of AI/ML, blockchain, robotics, analytics, quantum computing on demand for data centers? What will this mean for owners and operators in the UAE? What will be the future roles of this generation of technologies in planning and delivering key data center services and sustainability outcomes?

Connectivity has become a key requirement for a data center as the services it provides are transmitted to other data centers, to business clients and to end-consumers. Advances in communications and networking technologies – 5G, WiFi 6 (and 7), increased role of VR/AR, photonics, the dawning of the metaverse – are now pushing the boundaries of what is possible  This is true particularly of a ‘hub’ data center city such as Dubai. How can a data center be prepared inside and out to transition into the ‘Era of Connectivity’?

The importance of cloud services to digital progress across the Middle East is growing year-on-year. The technologies and systems that drive cloud don’t stand still – as the requirements of markets evolve, so do cloud deployment strategies. ‘Super cloud’ is now emerging – how will this impact the usage and the delivery of cloud in the Middle East over the next few years?

The demand for data center services in the Middle East is expected to be significantly driven by the deployment of AI/ML among organisations across the region. The impact of digital technologies on the design, construction, and operation of data centers is likely to be profound as it responds to this change. It raises questions about the preparedness of regional data centers, investors, and the tech workforce for this surge in demand. The introduction of AI Factories and AI Compute Centers will further influence these facilities. How and why will these factors need to evolve to meet the challenges posed by these advancements?

The rapid growth of generative AI has sharply increased power demands in data centers, making energy management a critical challenge. What are the latest cooling technologies, and how can they reduce resource usage, costs, and carbon emissions simultaneously? Additionally, we’ll explore how advancements in cooling not only address these issues but also alleviate bottlenecks in semiconductor design and production, as well as mitigate the shortage of computational resources.

Slowly but surely, power into data centers is moving away from reliance on fossil fuels delivered via a central grid. Generation is becoming more localized and renewable sources of energy are becoming preferred. How far are data centers locally and regionally moving along this path and what is driving them in this direction?   What is holding them back?

The demand for data centers continues to increase in the UAE and across the Middle East and operators need to address the challenges of serving the growth effectively and sustainably. This expert panel will look at the role that hyperscale capacity can play in servicing the demand locally and more widely across the region. It will look also at how the process of expanding hyperscale can be achieved sustainably.

Cloud migration represents an inevitable and beneficial transformation for most organizations. Yet it may increase or change the digital risk profile for the organisation. The possibility  of an accidental mistake in configurations, the exposure of sensitive data and applications and the speed of change all create a new threat landscape against which  existing defenses may no longer be effective . In this session, we will take a close look at real-world case studies on cloud cyber-attacks and appropriate response actions.

Data centers and associated infrastructure have become of greater interest to economies and societies globally. The Gulf States continue to command attention in terms of demand for digital infrastructure and delivery of it. How do beliefs about the digital future vary according to key representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. What differences in approach to data centers and cloud are evident in terms of  digital policy and strategy?  How have these arisen?  Is there a sense of common purpose between the digital industries in the region? How will this move forward?