AWS, e&, and UAE Cybersecurity Council launch the ‘UAE Sovereign Launchpad'
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company, and e&, the UAE-based global technology group, have today launched the UAE Sovereign Launchpad, a cloud offering in UAE that is set to accelerate the adoption of cloud and AI services for the UAE public sector and regulated industries.
The UAE Sovereign Launchpad, which is powered by AWS, offered by e&, and endorsed by the UAE Cybersecurity Council, paves the way for a new era of public cloud adoption in the UAE that is estimated to add US$181 billion cumulative value to the nation's digital economy by 2033.
The UAE Sovereign Launchpad will run on the AWS Middle East (UAE) Region located within the borders of the UAE. e& will manage and implement customers' security and sovereignty controls aligned with UAE Cloud Security policies. In addition, e& will leverage AWS Outposts, a service that allows customers to extend and run AWS services on premises, to meet customers' specific data residency requirements.
UAE government agencies, along with customers in healthcare, financial services, education, space, oil & gas, and non-profit sectors, can now access the latest AWS cloud technologies, while addressing the data sovereignty requirements of the UAE Cyber Security Council.
UAE public sector and regulated customers can use the UAE Sovereign Launchpad through e& for all workloads except those classified as Secret and Top Secret, combining AWS cloud capabilities, alongside workload management solutions and managed security support provided by e&. This will cover the majority of workloads for organizations in the UAE.
'The UAE Cyber Security Council welcomes the launch of the UAE Sovereign Launchpad and the collaboration between e& and AWS in advancing our nation's digital transformation journey. With the additional security and sovereignty controls designed within the UAE Sovereign Launchpad, the UAE Government and regulated industries can transform and innovate with AWS, while meeting regulatory requirements,' said Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, which spearheads the UAE's cybersecurity regulatory framework.
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, said: 'Through AWS's UAE Region and e&'s local expertise, this collaboration demonstrates our commitment to enabling secure cloud solutions that meet the requirements of the UAE's government and regulated sectors.
The UAE Sovereign Launchpad is the latest development of a US$1 billion-plus strategic alliance between AWS and e& to fast-track cloud solutions in the Middle East, supporting AI deployment and digital transformation across the region.
'The launch of the UAE Sovereign Launchpad, which leverages e&'s security expertise and operations, proves that world-class cloud services can operate within national cybersecurity frameworks. Our strategic partnership with AWS continues to exemplify how global cloud innovation can align with national priorities,' added Dowidar.
AWS is architected to be the most secure cloud infrastructure on which to build, migrate, and manage applications and workloads. This is backed by the trust of millions of customers worldwide, including the most security-sensitive organisations like government, healthcare, and financial services. The UAE public sector and regulated customers will now have access to the latest digital technologies, such as AI and machine learning, while addressing their data sovereignty requirements through the UAE Sovereign Launchpad.
'Our collaboration with e& the UAE Cybersecurity Council represents the perfect synergy of secure global cloud innovation and local expertise, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to supporting the 'We the UAE 2031' vision,' said Tanuja Randery, vice president, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, AWS.
'Security is foundational to sovereignty, and we believe it's essential that customers have control over their data and choices for how they secure and manage their data in the cloud. By combining our world-class cloud capabilities with e&'s deep understanding of UAE's regulatory landscape, we've developed solutions that serve UAE's digital transformation while maintaining the required data protection standards.'
UAE Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Bureau
AWS, UAE Cybersecurity Council, and e& also plan to create the UAE Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Bureau (CTIB). The CTIB aims to advance 'Made in UAE' cybersecurity innovations, strengthening the UAE's global leading position at the forefront of cyber resilience and elevating the nation's digital capacity building in secure-by-design cloud-computing infrastructure.
'The UAE CTIB reflects the constant efforts made by the UAE in the field of cybersecurity and is a result of the directions and visions of the country's wise leadership,' added Dr. Al-Kuwaiti. 'Through the UAE CTIB, we plan to develop an annual program of training workshops, national and international partnerships, start-up incubations, reports and whitepapers, along with strategic R&D and academic collaborations, to accelerate the UAE's digital transformation and cyber pulse agenda.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
4 minutes ago
- The National
Moroccan runner Anass Essayi determined to reach pinnacle of athletics
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It's e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps. • Business Bay's Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile. • Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online 'easier, faster and smoother' via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale. • 2checkout's 'all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account' accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users. • PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone's signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
The National
4 minutes ago
- The National
Return to five-day week in the office is 'inevitable', UAE employment experts say
It is only a matter of time before most companies in the UAE discard remote options and ask for staff to be based solely in the office during the working week, experts have said. The majority of companies adopted a hybrid working model, with staff splitting their working week between the office and home, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that brought the world to a standstill. However, those days could be coming to an end with a trend emerging in which companies are asking for staff to spend their entire working week in the office. One of the main reasons for this is a perception that staff are more efficient when working on-site with their colleagues, rather than from their homes. 'In the UAE, the shift back is real. The West might talk about four-day work weeks and hybrid forever, but the context here is different,' said Nevin Lewis, chief executive of Black & Grey HR. 'SMEs are the backbone here and they don't have the massive profit cushions big multinationals do. The cost of visas, medical cover, family benefits and housing is real. This makes full-time, disengaged remote teams unsustainable for many.' They've got assets not being used to full capacity and offices are sitting empty David Mackenzie One of the main reasons for firms moving away from remote working is due to there being less need now the pandemic is well and truly over, he said. High-profile firms such as Amazon, HSBC, X and JP Morgan are among those that offer no remote work options, requiring staff to spend all five working days operating from the office. 'Remote work boomed out of necessity during Covid and not because it was always the best model for every industry, role or culture. Companies adopted it fast to survive,' said Mr Lewis. 'Now the dust has settled, the reality is clearer than ever. More employers are telling us that they see their employees disengaged. Psychologically, too much isolation breeds anxiety and disconnect. 'The next generation will keep pushing for more remote freedom as they're digital, flexible, fluid. That's fine. But the fundamentals of business won't change. Smart people need smart people around them to push ideas further. Culture, trust and innovation will thrive when teams come together.' The argument for remote work The UAE government has come out in no uncertain terms in terms of its support for remote working practices. Companies that offer staff hybrid working have a powerful advantage over those that do not, a report commissioned by the UAE government found in January. The white-paper study, titled Remote Working in the UAE, concluded that 'the overall direction is clear. Remote working is more of an opportunity than it is a threat'. The report found the argument for a policy that supports remote work was compelling, with evidence showing a hybrid model that combined working from home and the office can increase productivity. The hybrid model was also best for increasing inclusivity and workforce well-being, as well as increasing the potential talent available to a company, to include more women and people with caring responsibilities at home, as well as those who were no longer constrained by proximity to a fixed office location, the report said. However, the shift towards staff spending less and less time working remotely from home is continuing unabated, said another expert. 'It seems inevitable,' said David Mackenzie, group managing director of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones, when asked about the likelihood of most firms abandoning remote working options for employees. 'The accountants have taken over, whereas HR previously dictated the culture of the office environment. The accountants have suddenly realised they've got assets not being used to full capacity and offices are sitting empty. They've looked at their asset sheet and decided 'we're not using it enough'.' A trend was emerging with more companies across the country calling for staff to be in the office for the entire duration of the working week, said Mr Mackenzie. 'One issue with working from home is you don't know how productive your people are,' he said. 'You have to trust people to [let them] work from home. 'You can always tell the people at home who are actually working because they're always online, they're always chatting to you. The ones who aren't always take time to get hold of.' Office space Almost two thirds of chief executives and business leader around the world said they expected to see a full return to companies working solely from the office within three years, according to the KPMG CEO Outlook survey released in late 2023. The same survey revealed a massive majority of global business leaders, 87 per cent, felt that pay and promotions should become dependent on workplace attendance. However, another employment expert warned that companies could be risking their chances of employing the best possible people if they were inflexible about working conditions. 'A full return to a five-day office week is highly unlikely. Companies that insist on it risk becoming less attractive to top talent, making it harder to recruit new employees or retain existing ones. Flexibility has become a key factor in employer branding and employee satisfaction,' said Oliver Kowalski, regional managing director at Hays Middle East. 'That said, many employers have also recognised the value of in-office work – particularly when it comes to fostering company culture, strengthening employee identification with the organisation, and enabling peer-to-peer learning. 'So, while hybrid work is likely to remain the dominant model, we may see a slight shift toward more in-office presence.' A spokesperson for another firm said the end of the pandemic made a move away from a hybrid working environment more likely. 'We're seeing a policy-level shift across the UAE as several companies are re-evaluating the 3:2 hybrid norm adopted during the pandemic,' said Priyanka Dalvi, global people officer with Airpay Payment Services. 'For many, especially in sectors where collaboration, client interface, or sales momentum are critical, a 4:1 or even a full five-day in-office model offers stronger alignment with business goals.' A major reason for the drift away from working remotely for many firms was the need to make the most out of the physical office space, she added. 'One of the largest inefficiencies we saw early on was an under-leveraged office space. In a market like the UAE, where speed and synergy are crucial, having individuals collaborate in the same location drives results and energises teams,' said Ms Dalvi. 'As more businesses adopt this approach, it is evident that a single one-size-fits-all hybrid model may not be equally suitable for all business situations.' Another recruitment expert said companies bringing the entire staff back to the office on a permanent basis in the UAE was becoming all the more common, however she stressed that did not mean it was necessarily the right idea for all firms. 'We are seeing it more and more with companies bringing their teams back into the office full-time,' said Megha Gupta, chief executive of Converge, a Dubai-based recruitment consultancy, which currently operates under a hybrid model with two days a week in the office. 'It wasn't about choosing between remote or in-office but finding a rhythm that feels right. That's how we landed on our current approach. It's not about clocking hours it's about the energy that comes from being in the same room. 'The unplanned chats. The shared laughter. The space to think together, not just speak. Those moments have brought us closer as a team. They have helped us move faster, listen better, and show up more fully for each other, and for our clients.' Room for both? Other experts are equally vocal about the hybrid model, spending some days in the office, while the others working from home, being here to stay. 'At Cavendish Maxwell, we firmly believe that flexibility underpins a high-performing and engaged workforce,' said Jessica Taylor, group chief operating officer with the property consultants. 'Our hybrid working model – which allows employees to choose one of two designated remote-working days each week – strikes the right balance between collaboration and focused execution. 'While some may view a five-day return to the office as inevitable, our data shows that a well-structured hybrid model can be both effective and sustainable. We have no plans to move away from it.'
UAE Moments
37 minutes ago
- UAE Moments
OPPO launches Reno14 series in the UAE packed with new AI features and Google Gemini partnership
— OPPO today launched its latest AI phone line-up in the UAE, the OPPO Reno14 series. Blending form, function, and next-level mobile creativity, the series includes the Reno14 F 5G, Reno14 5G, and Reno14 Pro 5G — each elevating everyday moments with OPPO's most intelligent imaging yet. Beyond its stunning Iridescent Mermaid Design and OPPO's cutting-edge AI Flash Photography, the Reno14 series leverages next-generation AI capabilities, forged in partnership with Google Gemini, delivering unparalleled performance and intelligent features. Designed to empower users across everyday scenarios, the Reno14 Series is equipped with AI Livephoto 2.0 and advanced AI editing and productivity features, all housed in a durable IP69-rated body, ensuring exceptional durability and peace of mind for the discerning UAE consumer. 'Since 2019, the Reno series has empowered users across the UAE to capture life's beauty, consistently pushing smartphone innovation,' said Lay Ren, President of OPPO MENA. 'With more than 130 million Reno phones sold globally, users trust us for young, trendy, and industry-leading photography. The Reno14 Series, with advanced AI and Google Gemini, promises to continue this leadership, helping everyone 'Make Your Moment, Celebrate Your Spark in the heart of the Emirates'.' OPPO Reno14 F 5G: The epitome of style and celebration The Reno14 F 5G stands out as OPPO's most stylish and celebration-ready phone. Drawing inspiration from the 'mermaidcore' trend, its Iridescent Mermaid Design is achieved through an industry-first Iridescent Glow Process, layering twelve finishes to create microscopic, light-reflecting textures, adding a dynamic, flowing glow. Ultra-slim at 7.74mm and lightweight at 180g, it's effortlessly portable and available in Opal Blue and Luminous Green. As the 'king of flash photography ', the Reno14 F 5G features an upgraded large Sony sensor on its ultra-clear 50MP main camera and a powerful dual-flash system, offering 100% higher brightness at a distance of one meter. This ensures bright, vivid details, even in low-light and group photos. Its continuous-fill mode enables crystal-clear LivePhotos, and it supports 4K ultra-clear video capture. The Reno14 F 5G also boasts advanced editing features, including an AI Editor, AI Recompose for instant angle correction, and AI Perfect Shot, which utilizes generative AI to refine expressions and correct closed eyes. Durability is ensured with IP69 dust and water resistance, and it supports 4K Ultra HD underwater video. Gamers will appreciate the AI Ultra-thin Dual-Drive Cooling System, featuring a 4,290 mm² Vapor Chamber and 9,130 mm² of graphite material, combined with AI HyperBoost 2.0, which ensures smooth gameplay and comfortable temperatures. The AI LinkBoost 3.0 guarantees stable connections, while the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 mobile platform delivers powerful performance. A massive 6,000mAh battery with 45W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge provides up to 2.24 days of use or 10 hours of nonstop gameplay. OPPO Reno14 5G: elegance and enhanced photography The Reno14 5G elevates elegance with its Velvet Glass back cover, offering a silky-smooth, fingerprint-free touch. It features ultra-thin bezels for an immersive viewing experience and an aerospace-grade aluminum frame with a flagship One-Piece Sculpted Glass design. Exclusive colour options include Opal White and Luminous Green. Photography on the Reno14 5G is significantly upgraded with a 3.5x telephoto lens and a 50MP flagship Sony camera sensor, alongside an 8MP ultra-wide camera. Its triple-lamp flash delivers industry-leading brightness, twice as luminous as the previous Reno, and 10x brighter at 2 meters. It supports 4K HDR ultra-clear video capture for stunning detail and natural colour transitions. For gaming performance, the Reno14 5G introduces Dual Gaming Engines, powered by the Dimensity 8350's HyperEngine for native high-frame gameplay. It packs a 6,000mAh+ battery and lightning-fast 80W SUPERVOOC charging, reaching 100% in just 48 minutes, offering up to 2.25 days of use or 10 hours of MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) gaming. OPPO Reno14 Pro 5G: Pro-level creativity with powerhouse performance Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line Reno14 Pro 5G is the ultimate powerhouse for pro-level creativity, combined with a sophisticated Titanium Grey colourway for a premium look. Its professional camera setup includes an industry-leading flash and a full-range, ultra-clear triple camera system featuring a wide-angle lens, a main camera, and a telephoto camera, each equipped with a massive 50MP resolution. This marks a significant upgrade, with even the wide-angle lens now delivering crystal-clear 50MP imagery. Users can expect sharp, high-quality results across every focal length, ensuring impressive captures every time. The Reno14 Pro supports 4K HDR ultra-clear video at all focal lengths, capturing every detail from dark shadows to bright highlights with smooth colour transitions. Thanks to dedicated support for 4K 60fps video on the Dimensity 8450 and OPPO's advanced HDR video tuning, it can record up to 4 hours of 4K HDR Video. The Reno14 Pro features a larger battery and comes with an 80W wired charger and an all-new 50W wireless SUPERVOOC Flash Charge, allowing for 47 minutes of charge to reach full capacity that lasts for 2.30 days or 10 hours of MOBA gaming. ColorOS 15 with Google Gemini: System-level AI integration All Reno14 Series devices run on the ultra-smooth, AI-driven ColorOS 15, based on Android 15. ColorOS 15 ensures long-term smoothness with the Trinity Engine and Luminous Rendering Engine, backed by 5x ColorOS upgrades and six years of security updates. A cornerstone of the Reno14 Series' intelligence is its deep integration with Google Gemini, marking Reno's first truly system-level AI experience. The series comes with the Google Gemini app pre-installed, allowing users to interact via text, voice, photos, and camera for writing, planning, and learning. Gemini will soon connect to OPPO apps like Calendar, Notes, and Alarm, enabling seamless workflows. Gemini Live offers real-time responses for complex topics, and Private Cloud Compute, developed with Google Cloud, ensures data privacy while enjoying powerful AI features. Pricing and Availability The OPPO Reno14 Series is now available for pre-order in the UAE, starting today, July 31, 2025. Pricing and bundled offers are as follows: Reno14 F: AED 1,499, includes complimentary OPPO Enco Buds 3 Pro and a 12-month screen and waterproof protection plan (valued at AED 899). Reno14 5G: AED 1,999, includes complimentary OPPO Enco Air4 earbuds, and a 12-month liquid and screen protection warranty (valued at AED 999). Reno14 Pro 5G: AED 2,599, includes complimentary OPPO Enco Air4 earbuds, and a 12-month liquid and screen protection warranty. OPPO's Cross-Country Warranty Service continues to provide peace of mind, as devices purchased in the GCC are eligible for service, repairs, and upgrades at authorized OPPO locations across the region. To celebrate the launch, OPPO is offering an exclusive trade-in promotion from August 1st to 17th, 2025. Customers trading in their old smartphones will receive an additional AED 200 on top of the assessed trade-in value when purchasing any device from the Reno14 Series. As part of the launch bundle, customers will also receive complimentary OPPO audio accessories:
