Dubai: Dubai-based information and communication technology (ICT) services provider Smartworld is leveraging its airport systems offerings across the region’s rapidly growing aviation segment in bid to double its revenues this year.
The company, which is behind the implementation of IT systems at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central (DWC), Terminal One and Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport, is spreading its wings to other sectors to attract small- and medium-sized companies at the DWC Business Park.
“Our focus is to strengthen our position in Dubai and then move to Saudi Arabia and other African markets next year. It is easy for companies to open businesses at DWC as they don’t need to invest a lot on data bases and security solutions,” Mohammad Fouz, Smartworld CEO, told Gulf News.
He said that one of the main criteria for companies and governments apprehensive about migrating to the cloud is the location of data centres. Many of the companies and governments do not want their data to be stored outside the UAE.
Fouz said that Smartworld has invested Dh50 million on two data centres located at the Dubai World Central Park and has invested Dh5 million for upgrading it to the cloud.
Smartworld is a joint venture between etisalat and Dubai World Central established in 2008 with a capital of Dh110 million.
He said the company’s revenues grew 130 per cent last year and aims to double it to 260 per cent this year as the economy is getting high-profile attention.
The company has launched three new services - cloud computing, remotely managed infrastructure and security services and BizPark solutions – to attract companies at the freezones and business incubators with all the necessary tools they need to stay digitally competitive.
“The new services will be offered for the first time as a package which will increase companies’ digital competitiveness, productivity, huge saving in energy and maintenance bills,” he said.
The company hopes to win at least a couple of more projects by year-end.
“We are hopeful of winning the tender for the Midfield Terminal Building project at Abu Dhabi Airports Company. We were pre-qualified as one of the strongest local companies,” Fouz said.
“Dubai is already a smart city. The main criteria when developing the Al Maktoum International Airport was to launch it as a smart airport. Even in Expo 2020, smart elements are included in it to make it a smart Expo 2020. Smart elements are included in the design and construction of any new projects coming up in Dubai,” he said.
