UAE businesses are at the forefront of adopting technology to deliver customer and citizen benefits, as the UAE’s IT spend set to top $8 billion by 2017, according to SAP’s newly-appointed UAE managing director.

Business IT spending in the UAE is set to grow by 74 per cent from a projected $ 4.63 billion in 2014 to $8.06 billion in 2018, according to IT research company IDC.

Public sector investment across government, education, and healthcare will drive the majority of business IT growth, along with finance, energy, and consumer device purchases, according to IDC.

“As the UAE sees widespread adoption of smart devices and the Internet of Things, UAE businesses - from entrepreneurs to government agencies – are deploying business intelligence solutions via mobile, the cloud, or apps to deliver unparalleled data-driven ROI,” said Tayfun Topkoç.

Topkoç will report directly to Sam Alkharrat, president, SAP Mena, who oversees a strategy to expand SAP’s partner ecosystem and support economic growth, complemented by a range of training and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

“Tayfun Topkoç is a proven leader in the region, who will drive our partner-centric strategy in one of SAP’s key markets, and support the UAE’s strong economic growth,” said Alkharrat.

“We’re dedicated to providing the latest technology solutions across impressive UAE initiatives including World Expo 2020, Dubai Smart City, and Abu Dhabi Plan 2030.”

Topkoç has more than 18 years of regional sales and marketing experience, previously serving as regional director for HP Middle East. – TradeArabia News Service