Page 22 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Etisalat Digital Teams Up With Smartworld For ‘Shahada‘ Blockchain
Platform

Etisalat Digital announced its partnership system integrator, and Grape Technology, with eight major banks to digitize trade
with Smartworld to exclusively bring a UAE blockchain startup. Shahada is in in the finance sector.” Abdulqader Ali,
Shahada, a tamper-proof digital certificate alignment with both the UAE Blockchain Chief Executive Officer, Smartworld, said:
platform, to all educational institutions in Strategy 2021 and the 50-Year Charter “Significant synergies will be gained from
the region. This revolutionary solution will launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin our partnership with Etisalat Digital and
save time, effort and resources by enabling Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and we are excited about the opportunities
these institutions to securely issue Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler moving forward. Our ecosystem solution
credentials on blockchain, avoiding forgery of Dubai. Abdulla Ebrahim Al Ahmed, will not only help students, government
of paper-based certificates and creating Senior Vice President, Government Sales, and educational institutions, but also
an educational passport where credentials Etisalat, said: “We are pleased to partner employers who will experience ease of
are easily shared with third parties, who with Smartworld to bring Shahada, a verification and a reduction of fraud.”
can verify their authenticity seamlessly. secure platform that is a groundbreaking The Shahada platform brings together
Etisalat Digital is working closely with innovation for the educational sector. educational institutions, government
Smartworld to empower ‘Shahada’ with Etisalat Digital with its capabilities and entities and other stakeholders on a
its market reach, advanced infrastructure expertise, utilizes disruptive technologies secure permissioned blockchain platform.
in the country and operational capabilities to empower all sectors in UAE and the It enables ministries to play a regulatory
and take it to all schools and universities. Middle East. Shahada reinforces our role on the blockchain records, digitally
The platform was launched in February capabilities in blockchain after launching attest and certify credentials issued inside
this year by Smartworld, the UAE’s leading a nationwide platform in collaboration and outside the UAE.

Digital Enablement Is Key to Transformation in the New Normal, Says
Etisalat Chief Technology Officer

Transformation is key in the new normal
with a focus on innovation by building
new capabilities and tools that are
digitally enabled and are sustainable,
said Hatem Bamatraf, Chief Technology
Officer, Etisalat International, during the
Telecoms World Middle East & Carriers
World Middle East 2020. “Etisalat has
always thrived and continuously invested
in building an advanced network and
introducing new services to meet the
growing requirements of customers
especially in today’s new normal. We are
the cusp of this metamorphosis where we
are able to deliver uninterrupted services
to our customers, provide solutions in panel on ‘Embracing tech transformation Officer, Etisalat, took part in an insightful
an age of social distancing and remote in today’s new normal society’. The two- panel discussion on ‘Opportunities await
working to enable faster decision day conference taking place virtually from the Middle East: capitalizing on the
making for businesses, minimize human 13th to 14th October is among the biggest geographical advantage of the region and
interactions and increase the pace of and most influential telecom events in exploring the opportunities that lie ahead.
automation. Thanks to the UAE vision in the region, focusing on the strategies, A multitude of topics were discussed such
positioning the country as one of the most technologies and big ideas that will be as exploring the barriers to connectivity;
competitive nations globally despite the essential for telecoms companies in 2020. adapting digital mentality and utilizing
headwinds posed by today’s extraordinary Etisalat chief executives participated in and benefiting from OTTs; improving
times we continue to realize our digital panel discussions and live interactive connectivity and overcoming obstacles in
goals to meet the distinctive needs of all sessions moderated by global and the region; accessing emerging markets
customers,” said Bamatraf. Bamatraf was regional experts in the region. Ali Amiri, in the Middle East for global and regional
a key panelist in the opening CEO keynote Group Chief Carrier and Wholesale carriers; and outlining the necessity to

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