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Dubai International Financial Centre Data Centre First in the UAE to Receive Management and Operations Stamp of Approval from Uptime Institute
Dubai, UAE - The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Co-Location Data Centre has become the first data centre in the UAE to receive the internationally recognized Management and Operations (M&O) Stamp of Approval from Uptime Institute, the leading, unbiased standards and Certs organization for the data center and IT infrastructure.
In achieving the Uptime Institute M&O Stamp of Approval, the assessment particularly noted DIFC data centre's cohesive management structure and oversight of its spare part inventory, allowing for the reduction of mean time to fix, delivering a clear advantage when replacing key items.
Commenting on the certification, Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said: "As the first data centre in the UAE to complete this important assessment, we are honored to receive the Uptime Institute M&O Stamp of Approval. With nearly 20,000 skilled professionals working within the Centre, DIFC has a large pool of qualified talent capable of managing, planning and coordinating operations." Our objective is to advance towards a 'smart' platform and provide a secure and resilient technological infrastructure to ensure minimum risks and maximum uptime. As part of our 2024 growth strategy, we will continue to ensure that the technology we offer evolves to meet global standards and certifications," he continued.
The assessment process evaluates staffing levels, skill mix, training and qualifications of the data centre staff while also measuring the effectiveness of the maintenance and processes supporting data centre operations. The activities and policies that impact planning and coordination activities onsite are also reviewed as part of the evaluation.
"Uptime Institute is pleased to work with DIFC on the M&O Stamp of Approval," said Julian Kudritzki, Chief Operating Officer of Uptime Institute. "DIFC is taking a leadership role to create a smart financial centre in the UAE, working to continuously improve and build upon the organization's goals. Achieving this M&O Stamp of Approval will allow DIFC to differentiate themselves in the market ."
With the goal of becoming a 'smart' financial centre, DIFC's state-of-the-art data centre offers a range of services tailored for the evolving and dynamic requirements of its diversified financial and business community. Adopting innovation and harnessing information technology to enhance productivity and efficiency at the Centre, the data centre directly cross connects to international financial news feeders such as Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters to provide customers access to real time information at low costs.
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About Dubai International Financial Centre
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, providing a world-class platform connecting the region's markets with the economies of Europe, Asia and the Americas. It also facilitates the growth in South-South trade and investment. An onshore, international financial centre, DIFC provides a stable, mature and secure base for financial institutions to develop their wholesale businesses.
The Centre offers all the elements found in the world's most successful financial industry ecosystems, including an independent regulator, an independent judicial system with a common-law framework, a global financial exchange, inspiring architecture, powerful, enabling support services and a vibrant business community. The infrastructure within the district features ultra-modern office space, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants, art galleries, residential apartments, public green areas and hotels.
Located midway between the global financial centres of New York, London in the West and Singapore, Hong Kong in the East, DIFC (GMT +4) fills a vital time-zone gap with a workday that bridges the market and business hours of financial centres in both Asia and North America.
In 2015, DIFC launched its 2024 growth strategy, a blueprint for the next decade of growth of the financial hub. The growth strategy aims to stimulate trade and investment flows along the South-South economic corridor encompassing Africa, Southern Asia and Latin America.
Currently, 1,445 active registered companies operate from the Centre, with a combined workforce of 19,808 professionals.
DIFC continues to pursue expansion into new services and sectors within the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, an area comprising over 72 countries with an approximate population of 3.0 billion and nominal GDP of US$7.8 trillion.
For further information, please visit our website: www.difc.ae, or follow us on Twitter @DIFC.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Hajar Al Ketbi
Vice President - Public Relations & Corporate Communications
Tel: +971 4 362 2440
Email: Hajar.AlKetbi@difc.ae
Sonali Rekhi
APCO Worldwide
Associate Director
Mobile: +971 55 6264986
Email: srekhi@apcoworldwide.com
© Press Release 2016
