Abu Dhabi, UAE – 20 October 2023: The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Microsoft have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 16 October at GITEX Global 2023. The alliance enables innovation in key areas such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing and brings together both organisations’ capabilities and resources to enhance the tourist and cultural experience in Abu Dhabi.

This engagement with Microsoft aligns with DCT Abu Dhabi’s objectives to drive digital transformation within the organisation, redefining the landscape of the culture and tourism industry in the emirate to positively impact visitors and residents. Activities under the MoU will also drive growth, foster innovation and enhance knowledge among DCT Abu Dhabi employees.

The MoU spans across the optimisation, automation, and modernisation of IT and security infrastructure and will be enabled by Microsoft’s cloud computing platform Azure and cutting-edge security. The combination of the Microsoft Azure Intelligent Data Platform and Azure OpenAI Service will significantly improve operational insights, and the use of AI-powered Microsoft 365 tools will streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and elevate the overall service quality provided by DCT Abu Dhabi.

HE Adnan Al Awadi, Support Services Executive Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: 'Through our collaboration with Microsoft, we reaffirm our commitment to excellence through digital transformation as together we shape the future of work. In line with UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025, these efforts will contribute to elevating Abu Dhabi’s tourism and culture offerings and help meet the diverse needs of millions of tourists who visit from around the world each year. We are embarking on a journey to create a comprehensive digital ecosystem that connects and streamlines our network.”

Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to create new and engaging experiences for visitors who want to discover the rich culture and heritage of Abu Dhabi. We look forward to working together on bringing the latest technologies and skills to the tourism industry.”

One of the primary pillars of the MoU is focused on skills development and readiness. DCT Abu Dhabi and Microsoft share a commitment to fostering cross-learning opportunities, enabling stakeholders to acquire crucial technical skills and domain knowledge in generative AI. In a bid to revolutionise DCT Abu Dhabi’s innovation lifecycle, the MoU outlines plans to leverage Microsoft's wealth of expertise across many facets - from ideation and qualification to incubation, development and deployment.