DUBAI: The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry made its presence felt in the 6th Annual World Exhibition and Conference for Smart Cities, in Barcelona, Spain, through a stand showcasing its smart services launched in the past years as part of the emirate’s vision to transform Dubai into a smart city.
Dubai Chamber exhibited its online platform DubaiStartupHub on IBM Cloud recently-launched in cooperation with IBM as part of the Chamber’s efforts to enhance the innovation environment of the emirate under the umbrella of Dubai Smart City initiative. The DubaiStartupHub, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa region, consolidates the concept of a smarter community by offering comprehensive information and services as this digital tool helps place the start-ups on the bustling business map of Dubai.
It also provides the latest information and event updates related to technology and start-up and serves as a key source for Dubai business leaders and investors to connect and build new relationships as well as access to the latest business opportunities with start-ups while enhancing entrepreneurship and innovation in the emirate.
Essa Al Zaabi, Senior Vice-President, Institutional Support Sector, Dubai Chamber, who led the Chamber delegation stated that Dubai Chamber’s participation in this global gathering of smart cities is a unique opportunity for the Chamber to showcase what smart and innovate services it has to offer to global businesses.
He further stressed that the DubaiStartupHub aligns with Dubai Camber’s aim to support entrepreneurs and promote innovation as in today’s competitive business environment it is very important for entrepreneurs to harness the use of technology which promotes entrepreneurship and stimulates innovation in the work environment. The DubaiStartupHub allows the local community to interact with cloud technology in new ways, with special offers for start-ups to join IBM’s Global Entrepreneur Program, which provides mentoring, support and access to development tools and cloud resources via IBM Cloud.
It allows virtual visitors to learn about new job opportunities and local tech news; sign up for tech-focused events, classes and meet-ups; and navigate the city with a digital map that lists open office locations, workspaces and more. Powered by and built on the IBM Cloud, the DubaiStartupHub also offers a comprehensive search portal with a database and profile of Dubai-based tech start-ups and investors; a city-wide tech event calendar; continuous updates of technology-related jobs in the city; and a dedicated section for breaking news stories.
This initiative also aligns with Dubai Chamber’s aim to support entrepreneurs and promote innovation. In 2015, the Chamber launched its innovation strategy in line with the Chamber’s mission to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai. The Chamber has also been working towards supporting entrepreneurs through its Tejar Dubai entrepreneurship development programme, which identifies and develops the business idea of Emirati entrepreneurs.
