Oracle opened its first second-generation cloud facility in the UAE as it looks to expand its data storage offering to public and private enterprises across the region.
Second in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia, the new cloud facility will help customers to accelerate their digital transformation while ensuring their sensitive data remains secure.
Located in Dubai, the new facility – known as cloud region - will have at least two data centres and also offers disaster recovery capabilities. It's the 26th US technology giant’s second-generation facility globally.
“This will help accelerate the digital transformation initiatives of organisations across the UAE’s government entities, large enterprise and SMEs,” said Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, senior vice president, technology, for Middle East Africa and Central Eastern Europe at Oracle.
The new facility will help the Emirates enhance its digital prowess and improve its digital readiness, he added.
The digital economy was equivalent to 4.3 per cent of the UAE’s gross domestic product in 2019, and the government has set a target to double that.
Last September, Larry Ellison, Oracle's founder, said he planned to set up 36 second-generation cloud regions globally by July 2021. Four of these will be in Middle East – two each in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economies.
The region’s first was launched in Jeddah in February this year. The company did not provide further details on the opening of other facilities in the region.
Oracle, whose local clients include DP World, Abu Dhabi Customs, Damac Properties, Landmark Group and Apparel Group, reported more than $27.4 billion in global revenue from its cloud services and license support in the financial year ended on May 31.
"Our adoption of the second-generation cloud is in line with the digital transformation strategy of Abu Dhabi … [and] our vision of creating government services based on innovation and advanced technologies such as AI and IoT," Fahd Ghareeb Al Shamsi, executive director of the administrative affairs sector at Abu Dhabi Customs, told The National.
These technologies will enable Abu Dhabi Customs to automate customs procedures to enhance security, facilitate trade and provide excellent services, he added.
Etisalat, the UAE’s biggest operator, is the telecom partner for Oracle's cloud region in Dubai.
“During this unprecedented period, global markets are looking at enhancing digital services availability and adding new capacities for businesses and the entire community,” said Salvador Anglada, Etisalat’s group chief business officer.
“The partnership with Oracle further complements the existing capabilities of Etisalat,” he added.
UAE businesses are prioritising cloud investment and digital transformation in the wake of the pandemic and to compete during the recovery phase.
About 57 per cent of the UAE’s chief information officers from mid and large organisations said they were accelerating the digital transformation of their businesses in response to new customer needs, according to an International Data Corporation survey conducted in the second quarter of the year.
“The investment by global cloud providers in in-country data centres will continue to alleviate concerns of data residency and security among organisations in sectors such as the public sector, banking and others,” said Jyoti Lalchandani, regional managing director for Middle East, Turkey and Africa at IDC.
On the back of these demand and supply-side drivers, IDC expects spending on public cloud — a computing service in which a service provider like Oracle, Microsoft, or Alibaba makes resources available to the public or companies through the internet — to surpass $430 million in the UAE this year and $1bn by 2024, growing at 25 per cent annually.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
AWARDS
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
