Dubai - International Data Corporation (IDC) today announced that the 2016 edition of its popular annual IT Forum roadshow will be expanded to include nine stops as it traverses the Middle East over the next three months. More than 1,000 IT professionals attended the five events held last year, and the global ICT research and advisory services firm is expecting that figure to top 1,500 under the new format.
"Last year's installment proved to be an overwhelming success, so we are delighted to be adding Cairo, Muscat, Khobar, and Kuwait to our list of stops for the IT Forum 2016," says Jyoti Lalchandani, IDC's group vice president and regional managing director for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. "Hosted under the theme 'Digital Transformation: Leveraging IT to Future Proof Your Business' the roadshow will provide a perfect platform for IT executives looking to gain a clearer understanding of the wave of digitally-empowered technologies and processes that are currently sweeping across the Middle East."
The full schedule for IDC's IT Forum 2016 is as follows:
• Cairo - September 19
• Dubai - September 22
• Riyadh - September 26
• Jeddah - September 28
• Doha - September 29
• Kuwait - October 24
• Muscat - October 27
• Amman - November 24
• Khobar - November 30
The events will draw IT professionals from across the region's government, oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, and BFSI verticals, to name just a few, with senior IDC thought leaders presenting expert advice on the game-changing opportunities that exist for organizations willing to embrace the very latest digital transformation best practices.
And with the world's leading IT vendors displaying their pioneering new products and services, this groundbreaking series of events will provide an ideal opportunity for direct interaction between the providers of cutting-edge tech solutions and the IT professionals tasked with championing their implementation.
The agenda will explore strategies for improving efficiency, fostering innovation, reducing costs, and increasing business competitiveness, with a host of respected end-user speakers also taking to the stage. These will include the likes of Jonathan Richards, group digital strategy director at Gulf News Media; Heba AlSamt, digital media director at Dubai Media Inc; Ghanim Al Falasi, senior vice president of corporate services at Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; Dr. Alaeddin Al Badawna, vice president for IT at Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO); A T Srinivasan, CIO of Qatar Airways; Hamad Rashid Suwaid, head of IT at Qatar Gas Transport Company (NAKILAT); Georges Hobeika, head of IT at International Bank of Qatar; Steve Grayston, IT director at Qatar Post; Dr. Moataz Hassouna, CIO of Emaar Properties (Egypt); Yousuf AlShaiba, director of smart services development at Ajman Municipality and Planning; Ajay Rathi, CIO of Meraas Holding; and Dr. Adnan M. AlBar, CIO of Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection.
A number of leading technology vendors have partnered with IDC for the IT Forum 2016, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, TIBCO Software, Nexthink, and Aruba as Platinum Partners. The Gold Partners include Oracle, Sophos, Veeam Software, Forcepoint, CommScope, Western Digital, Fujitsu, Kony, Heat Software, Sage, and Nutanix. And the Exhibit Partners include iDashboards, ISIT, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, Barracuda Networks, Check Point, Automic, and Integrated Telecom Company. For further details, please visit the dedicated IT Forum 2016 webpage. You can tweet about the events using the hashtag #IDCITFORUM. If you would like more information about IDC events or wish to learn about the range of flexible partnership opportunities on offer, please contact Ms. Ronita Bhattacharjee, associate vice president for conferences at IDC Middle East and Africa, on +971 4 391 2747 or at rbhattacharjee@idc.com.
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.
IDC in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey
For the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey region, IDC retains a coordinated network of offices in Riyadh, Casablanca, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, Cairo, and Istanbul, with a regional center in Dubai. Our coverage couples local insight with an international perspective to provide a comprehensive understanding of markets in these dynamic regions. Our market intelligence services are unparalleled in depth, consistency, scope, and accuracy. IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey currently fields over 130 analysts, consultants, and conference associates across the region. To learn more about IDC MEA, please visit www.idc-cema.com. You can follow IDC MEA on Twitter at @IDCMEA.
Contact for Media
Anulekha Shetty, Tel: +971 4 391 2741, Email: ashetty@idc.com
© Press Release 2016
