Alibaba Cloud has unveiled a training center in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that will serve as a hub for customers and partners to elevate their digital competence. Located in Dubai Internet City, a global tech ecosystem part of TECOM Group PJSC, the Alibaba Cloud Academy Training Center, aims to train 5,000 people over the next five years in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) Region.
This is significant given how Dubai is fast cementing its place as the brightest jewel in the data center crown of the Middle East. Moreover, given how the advent of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) etc. is revolutionising how data is analysed and used, there is a constant need to upskill and, sometimes, even reskill people employed in the Cloud and Data Center industry.
“The launch of the training center showcases our commitment and continued investment into the MEA region to help businesses transform digitally and achieve business success in the long term. We’re committed to growing together with our local partners and customers and providing them with the latest cloud computing and AI technologies to enable them to innovate and grow their businesses in the MEA region,” said Eric Wan, General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Middle East, Turkey & Africa.
The launch of this brick-and-mortar training center complements the virtual training programs that Alibaba Cloud has offered over the years to empower digital talents globally. According to a press release, “In less than a year and since April 2023, the Alibaba Cloud Academy program has trained over 60,000 people worldwide, offering over 300 online & offline certification courses, 16 different kinds of professional certifications, 250 online hands-on labs with over 300 associated global partners from the Alibaba Cloud Academy.”
It further said, “By partnering with leading provider of security services and solutions Aladdin Cyber Security, the Training Center aims to host monthly training and enablement programs covering a wide spectrum of cutting-edge technologies, from AI to database management to elastic computing. These programs are part of a larger effort to help its ecosystem partners and customers stay up-to-date with the latest Alibaba Cloud technologies and develop top digital talents.”
The objectives of the training program align with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s goal to double Dubai’s economy in the next decade through digital transformation contributions, as well as the UAE Centennial 2071’s blueprint for a future-oriented, knowledge-based economy.
Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President – Commercial at TECOM Group, on behalf of Dubai Internet City acknowledged this saying, “By investing in upskilling and training talent on cutting-edge technologies, we can remain agile, innovative and competitive, in line with the vision of the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’. Alibaba Cloud’s physical training centre will empower our global tech community of professionals and entrepreneurs as well as countless more to power regional economic diversification efforts and innovation by remain ahead of the digital curve.”
*Feature image courtesy: Aladdin Cyber Security LinkedIn post.
