Top 20 IT Companies in UAE

State-Driven IT Development in UAE

The UAE’s digital economy is essentially driven by national strategies in the various visions, such as UAE Vision 2031, the Dubai Smart City initiative, and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Each of the aforementioned visions support direct funding and incentives for IT development across all sectors.

Government Spending on IT:

• A total of over AED 4.5 billion was allocated for digital infrastructure alone during 2024.
• In reaching the Smart Dubai objective of a paperless government and 100 percent digitized services by 2030.

Impact:

• Aiding in public-private partnerships (PPP) referenced in objectives and ambitions.
• Aiding in the formation of a digital-first ecosystem for education, transport and governance.

Artificial Intelligence & Automation As Powerhouses

AI has become a vital component of the UAE’s IT revolution. For example, companies like G42 and DarkMatter are doing advanced research into AI, robotics, and quantum computing.

Particular milestones achieved:

• The UAE launched the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) — the first graduate AI university in the world.
• AI investments will reach USD 8.9 billion by 2030.

Examples:

• Smart policing with facial recognition.
• G42 healthcare diagnostics using AI.
• AI banking and fraud prevention.

Reputed AI firms in UAE:

• G42
• Group 42 healthcare
• Beyond Limits Middle East

Cybersecurity as a National Pillar

The rapid digitisation across the region has resulted in the inevitability of cybersecurity; therefore, access to cybersecurity has been moved to the national level from private sector access, for example, Injazat and Digital14 are focusing on sovereign cloud systems and zero-trust architecture.

Some Key Facts:

• Cybercrime cost in the UAE – USD 746 million in 2023.
• Since 2020 over 90% of UAE enterprises upgraded their cybersecurity infrastructures.

Some Significant Programs:

• Cybersecurity Council of UAE – formulates national security policies and standards.
• Digital14 – provided cybersecurity for Expo 2020 and the federal e-services.
• Core services provided: Cyber threat intelligence.
• SOC as a Service (Security Operations Centre).
• Penetration testing of public infrastructure.

Cloud Computing and Big Data Adoption in the UAE

Cloud computing in the UAE has gone off the chart due to hybrid workforce models, e-commerce, and government data initiatives. Simultaneously, global leaders such as Microsoft Azure, Oracle, and SAP have established data centre Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Market Trends:

• UAE cloud market, USD 2.3 Billion by 2026.
• Increasing demand for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud models within banking, health care and logistics.

Big Data Trends:

• Predictive analytics in logistics, and e-commerce.
• Real time data streams in smart traffic systems.
• Healthtech for data lakes of patient data for diagnosis.

Key Regional Players:

• SAP MENA
• Microsoft Gulf.
• Oracle middle east.
• IBM UAE.

SME Transformation and Technology Service Expansion

SMEs represent the backbone of the UAE economy. Several IT and digital companies have recognized this importance and are focusing on very cost effective, easy to scale, and localized technology for SMEs.

Sector Significance:

• SMEs make up 52% of the UAE’s non-oil GDP.
• There are over 350,000 SMEs currently active in the UAE, predominantly in retail, transportation, and food & beverage.

IT Services Needed:

• ERP – customized or through our partnerships with SAP/Oracle
• Web and Mobile app development
• Digital marketing and CRM platforms
• Set up IT infrastructure, networks, remote access, and home-based employees

Prominent Providers with current offerings serving SMEs:

• Alpha Data
• Raqmiyat
• CNS Middle East
• Site Technology

A success story:
CNS Middle East helped over 50 SMEs in Dubai shift to cloud accounting and HR through the COVID-19 lockdown phases. CNS estimated that SMEs had an average of 35% savings in operational costs.