Dubai, UAE — The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Microsoft have signed an MoU that enables innovation in key areas such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing and brings together both organizations’ capabilities and resources to enhance the tourist and cultural experience in Abu Dhabi.
The MoU was signed on 16 October at GITEX Global 2023. DCT Abu Dhabi said this engagement with Microsoft aligns with DCT Abu Dhabi’s objectives to drive digital transformation within the organization, 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 optimization, automation, and modernization 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, DCT said.
Adnan Al Awadi, Support Services Executive Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “We are embarking on a journey to create a comprehensive digital ecosystem that connects and streamlines our network.”
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 revolutionize 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, DCT said.
