Accenture and Microsoft joint venture Avanade begins UAE operations

The UAE will be the US technology company’s 26th location as it expands its global footprint

Avanade says it will work with Accenture to help UAE clients build operational resilience. Photo: Sarah Dea / The National

Accenture and Microsoft-backed technology company Avanade is set to enter the UAE market with the opening of offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The company will work with Accenture to help UAE clients create "exceptional experiences, build operational resilience and reimagine new business models”, Avanade said in a statement on Tuesday.

Avanade provides technology-led services and cloud solutions to businesses globally using the Microsoft platform.

“As organisations renew for the future, we want to make a positive impact in the region by helping our clients solve complex business problems that are unique to their industries and realise their business goals faster on the Microsoft platform,” Adriano Neves, Avanade’s UAE regional lead, said.

Founded in 2000, the Seattle-based company has more than 49,000 employees in 25 countries. The UAE represents the 26th location in the company’s expanding global footprint.

“With our combined service capabilities, global scale and joint solution development on the Microsoft platform, we look forward to helping our clients drive an end-to-end digital transformation of their businesses,” Nadya Abdulla Kamali, Accenture’s country managing director in the UAE, said.

Avanade, whose clients span various industries including financial services and oil and gas, works with companies to engage customers, empower employees, optimise operations and transform products using the latest technologies.

The UAE, Arab world’s second largest economy, is attracting technology talent through various initiatives. Besides offering long-term visas to technology entrepreneurs and professionals from around the world, the Emirates recently signed pacts with companies such as Google and Amazon to train 100,000 programmers and coders within the next five years and create 1,000 digital companies to boost its economy.

On Monday, it also launched the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network that will grow 500 national companies through the application of advanced technology over five years.

“Together with Avanade and Accenture, we will continue to empower every person and organisation in the UAE to achieve more,” said Sayed Hashish, general manager for Microsoft in the UAE.