The Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA), the government entity leading the digital transformation in the emirate, on Monday announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, to maximise the value of services provided by the company to government entities in the UAE capital.

The agreement, signed during GITEX Technology Week, is part of ADDA’s efforts aimed at leading the digital future of Abu Dhabi government and supporting digital transformation in the emirate by using the latest technologies, defining strategies, policies and standards, and developing the digital infrastructure in partnership with the private and public sectors to enhance the effectiveness of government performance.

The agreement is also meant to facilitate the procurement of applications and advanced solutions provided by Palo Alto Networks to government entities and maximising the value of services provided to these entities, in addition to providing support by Palo Alto Networks to Abu Dhabi’s government entities’ employees in areas including training and awareness.

Engineer Mohamed Abdel Hameed Al Askar, Director-General of ADDA, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Palo Alto Networks, which comes in line with ADDA’s vision for leading the digital future of Abu Dhabi and strengthening cooperation between government entities and strategic partners to promote innovation in various areas of government services.

In his comments, Ercan Aydin, Regional Vice President at Palo Alto Networks EMEA, said: “With the rapid rise and adoption of digital transformation within the majority of the sectors, businesses are undoubtedly more vulnerable to cyberthreats and breaches, and require higher security measures in place.”

SMART DUBAI: Smart Dubai has released the ‘Future of Work’ report – a study that explores future possibilities of work; the potential developments expected to transform the nature of jobs; the mindset shifts that are driving these possibilities; as well as the evolving structural changes that are redefining the human-workplace dynamic.

Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR), asserted Dubai’s readiness to tackle the challenges and rapid developments taking place around the world, whether due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution or the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Institutions in Dubai played a great role in forecasting the future…the Dubai Future Foundation carried out studies and research and came up with results that were forwarded to decision-makers,” Al Falasi said. “The DGHR also conducted studies and research, organised workshops, launched programs to anticipate the future of jobs in the medium and long term, and developed plans and strategies to deal with the evolving labor market. Meanwhile, Smart Dubai played an important and distinct role with its ‘Future of Work’ report.”

For his part, Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General of Smart Dubai, and CEO of the Dubai Data Establishment, said: “Smart Dubai has been entrusted with a mission to spearhead and expand Dubai’s digital transformation, and lead the emirate’s efforts to embrace promising and advanced new technologies to build a pioneering, full-fledged smart city. Our team is at the fore of the emirate’s efforts to forecast and shape the future today. We are the government entity working to establish Dubai as the smartest and happiest city on Earth, and with that in mind, we are particularly keen on exploring what the future labor market will look like.”

Meanwhile, Smart Dubai, in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), has officially launched the first five Dubai Registers – part of its Dubai Registers initiative.

The Registers seek to provide a network of interconnected and credible databases that add value, ensure a sustainable and happy city, and serve as a unique source of up-to-date city data.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), said: “The Dubai Registers initiative plays an important role in documenting administrative records and unifying databases for all parties concerned with shared services.”

For his part, Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), noted: “We are pleased to work together with our friends at Smart Dubai and be part of a city-wide effort to provide credible, reliable and connected data to the community. Providing access to the latest information and data is critical to parents and it allows them to make the right choices at the right time.”