Dubai: Microsoft chairman Bill Gates will give the keynote address at Microsoft's Government Leaders Forum Arabia 2008 taking place in Dubai, marking his first-ever speech in the emirate.
Microsoft Gulf executives confirmed the attendance of the chairman and founder of the software giant, which will lend an air of prestige and credibility to the event and the emirate of Dubai.
Company officials were unable to disclose details about his visit. The event is expected to take place in January.
"Bill will be visiting the UAE, but we are working with his team on finalising his schedule and agenda," said Microsoft's Bharat Kumar, business and marketing director for the Gulf region.
"He will be the keynote speaker at GLF Arabia and will have other engagements during his visit. We will officially communicate more details about his visit once those details have been finalised.
Jyoti Lalchandani, regional managing director for market research firm IDC, said a visit by an industry titan like Gates could have a real impact on the region's IT sector.
"It's great to have him visit," Lalchandani said of the man who helped create the software industry.
"I think this is probably his last visit to the Middle East region as the head of Microsoft."
Gates is expected to step down from his role and serve in an advisory capacity sometime early next year, according to Lalchandani. Earlier speakers at the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum include CEO Steve Ballmer, who spoke in 2005.
