Dubai Economy is participating in GITEX Technology Week 2017 being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event kicked off on Sunday and runs through Thursday.
Dubai Economy is showcasing its innovative e-services and applications for visitors. The participation is in line with the efforts of Dubai Economy to connect with leading technology companies and government entities as well as to update businessmen and investors with the latest developments and services provided.
Mohammad Khalifa Al-Qaizi, director of IT department, Dubai Economy, said: “As government entities regularly attend GITEX Technology Week, this year Dubai Economy and its agencies will be bringing the latest of our digital and smart solutions introduced for businessmen and investors in Dubai, making it easier to do business in the most competitive and sustainable environment.”
A notable display from Dubai Economy at GITEX Technology Week 2017 will be the “Smart Lounge,” which is a self-service experience for customers supported by world-class information and communications technology (ICT) tools and capabilities. Visitors will also learn about the “Business in Dubai” smart application for business registration and licensing, as well as the “Instant Licence” initiative that enables investors to get a business license in one-step and within five minutes.
A special team from the Business Registration & Licensing (BRL) sector in Dubai Economy will provide an overview of the “e-Trader” program that enables Emirati and GCC national residents of the UAE to conduct business activities on social networking sites. The “Dubai Business Map,” an interactive guide linked to the Dubai economy database, which takes investors through area-wise economic activities and economic performance indicators across Dubai, will also feature among the displays.
Dubai SME, the agency of Dubai Economy mandated to develop the SME sector, will showcase its Dubai SME Smart System, which enables SMEs to register as members through the official portal www.sme.ae.
Marwan Al-Nasser, senior manager of GPP at Dubai SME, said: “Dubai SME in collaboration with the Executive Council of Dubai will highlight the e-procurement portal, the official online channel for companies to interact with buyers in different government agencies, at GITEX Technology Week 2017.
The system allows Dubai SME members to register at the Dubai eGovernment. Members will then be directed to the smart supply page and asked to identify their business sector so that they can receive alerts on tenders concerned.”
Dubai Economy to bring latest e-services and apps to GITEX 2017
Dubai Economy to bring latest e-services and apps to GITEX 2017
World Defense Show 2026: KPMG highlights human capital as strategic defense asset
KPMG published a series of four white papers as official knowledge partner for the World Defense Show 2026, reinforcing its commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s ambition to build a sovereign, future-ready defense ecosystem grounded in integrated capability development, localization, and digital readiness.
As global defense priorities evolve from procurement-led models toward capability-driven ecosystems, one of the papers in the defense integration series highlights a clear inflection point for the sector. According to KPMG analysis, defense localization in Saudi Arabia has increased from around 4 percent in 2018 to 24.9 percent in 2024, with the Kingdom targeting 50 percent localization by 2030. At the same time, local content across the defense sector has reached 40.7 percent, up from 38.4 percent in 2023, reflecting deeper integration across procurement, industrial participation, technology adoption, and workforce development.
KPMG’s findings emphasize that modern defense power is no longer defined by platforms and equipment alone, but by the ability to design, operate, integrate, and sustain advanced systems at scale. While technology, infrastructure, and capital investment remain critical enablers, the firm’s WDS position paper highlights that defense transformation has a significant human-capital focus, recognizing that skills, data literacy, and local expertise are essential to maximizing the performance, resilience, and sovereignty of advanced defense capabilities.
Christopher Moore, head of defense and security, said: “Saudi Arabia’s defense transformation has a significant human-capital focus, alongside major investments in technology, equipment, and industrial capacity. The progress we are seeing in localization and local content demonstrates that the Kingdom is not only acquiring advanced systems, but also building the skills, institutions, and operating models required to sustain them. Through our partnership with the World Defense Show, KPMG is proud to contribute insight and frameworks that help translate Vision 2030 ambition into operational readiness.”
This human-capital perspective forms part of a broader KPMG defense thought-leadership series developed for WDS 2026, which examines defense transformation through multiple, interconnected pillars. These include accelerating sovereign defense ecosystems, integrating business and technology infrastructure, financing future deterrence through public-private partnerships, strengthening industrial and technological autonomy, and building a future-ready defense workforce — reflecting KPMG’s holistic view of defense as an integrated national ecosystem.
KPMG’s research also situates Saudi Arabia’s progress within a global economic context. International benchmarks cited in the firm’s WDS analysis show that every $1 billion in defense manufacturing output in the US supports approximately 5,700 jobs, while the UK defense sector contributes around £25 billion ($34.2 billion) to GDP and sustains 260,000 skilled jobs. Across the EU, defense industries employ more than 1.6 million people and generate approximately 70 billion euros ($82.9 billion) in annual value. KPMG notes that similar dynamics are beginning to emerge in Saudi Arabia as localization accelerates and private-sector participation expands.
To support measurable progress, KPMG has proposed a Defense Workforce Capability Index — a framework that links workforce outcomes directly to operational readiness. The index tracks localization rates, technical qualification levels in advanced and digital systems, and the share of maintenance and sustainment conducted domestically, aligning human-capital metrics with broader defense performance objectives.
Taking place in Riyadh from Feb. 8 to 12, the World Defense Show will bring together senior government leaders, defense manufacturers, and technology innovators from around the world. The other three papers in the defense integration series focus on sovereignty, financing and technology.
