UAE's digital growth on track

The UAE is known to host global tech experts who come to assess the growth that has spiralled over the years. The desert stands as a testimony of the hard work that has been pumped in to this booming diverse economy which is now recognised as a global hub.

Leading global players agree that manufacturing, power and health sector will witness huge investments in the region and that the UAE will lead the trend.

Alan Hippe, chief financial and information officer at Roche, who recently visited the UAE, said: "Digital transformation is revolutionising healthcare, helping patients lead longer, safer and healthier lives. In the Middle East, the UAE is at the forefront of digitisation in healthcare. With the rise in the incidence of non-communicable diseases, local authorities have been facilitating the adoption of the latest breakthrough medicines and therapies for the benefit of the community through the digitisation of services."

"In parallel, the adoption of electronic health records has been faster in the region than in many areas of the world, which makes it fertile ground for gathering big data and using artificial intelligence to analyse and apply it. This region is doing some bold work to realise this important healthcare trend," added Hippe.

Hippe feels 2019 will witness the proliferation of telehealth technologies which empower patients living in the most remote locations across the globe to access high quality healthcare and receive life-saving diagnoses.

"We embrace digital and technological progress. In-vitro diagnostics in particular, will carry on a large share of the role as preventive care continues to gain ground and further lead. We believe in doing now what the patient needs next, which is what has always kept us ahead of the curve."

Roche is present in 16 countries in the region, including the GCC countries, the Levant and Northern Africa, and is committed to increase its presence.

"In general terms, we will see increased investment into the Middle East, in our organisations and in our collaborations with local authorities, partners, patient associations to increase access to our innovations. We will look into more education and employment opportunities for local talent, particularly in the UAE and other GCC countries. The UAE is a leading country in the transformation in healthcare. We mirror the vision outlined in Vision 2022 in placing the patient first for a healthier community. Our global reach and geographical access make us optimally-positioned to bring our latest and best innovations to the country in a timely manner partners and patients. We will continue to strengthen our partnership with the public authorities, as we expand our operations in the UAE."

Like Roche, GE Power is also expanding its operations across key sectors in the region. Steve Martin, chief commercial officer of GE Digital and chief digital officer of GE Power, said: "The current year will see huge investments in key economic sectors - manufacturing, power and health - which will fuel more growth."

GE Digital is supporting the region's power sector by increasing efficiency. "We are active worldwide... the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is one of our customers they explore their platform of industrial IOC in a plant level, we are excited about that. And the work we are doing around Gas optimisation and the efficiency is significant, we love it when we help the customer to increase their efficiency by 3,6,12 per cent than what they used to do before."

Martin says that a modern city that has latest infrastructure and energy needs and deserves modern software to manage it.

"We are doing lots of investments towards manufacturing, energy and health care in the boarder region, we are doing lots of things to automate basic tasks from seeing a doctor to insuring that the plant has maximum efficiency to ensuring that power needs are met in the region by managing supply and demand. The 4th Industrial Revolution is not a surprise in terms of efficiency, and getting most out of it, as a network we are working towards making sure that we get the maximum power need and manufacturing," he added.