Emirates Computers expands to Saudi

UAE-based reseller Emirates Computers is partnering with Alesayi Communications to expand its operations to Saudi Arabia.

Under a joint venture called e-Enterprises (e2), Emirates Computers is to set up operations in Saudi Arabia with offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.

Announcing the agreement, Emirates Computers president and CEO Hani Harik said e2 was targeting $120 million in services in its first year of operations.

"The Saudi market is undoubtedly the largest market in the region for IT and communications and is developing at an unprecedented rate. Saudi Arabia accounts for almost 50% of the region's IT spends and the demand for related IT services is increasing rapidly," he said.

"We believe it is the right time for us to have a direct local presence in Saudi, which will help us serve our customers better and further strengthen our position as the leading technology integrator in the Middle East," he added. e-Enterprises will focus on four key business lines, covering communications and networking infrastructure, software solutions, systems integration projects as well as security solutions, the firms said.

"We are happy to partner with Emirates Computers on this venture. It is a reputed company with an unmatched track record for implementing some of the biggest projects in this region. It has tremendous knowledge and expertise in the IT services field and some very strong partnerships with global vendors such as Dell, Cisco, EMC, Oracle and Sun to name a few," Assem Kaissi, chief operating officer of Alesayi Group, commented.

Kaissi said Alesayi's strong local market presence and experience as well as wide network of customers and partners in Saudi made it the "perfect partner" for Emirates Computers in the Kingdom.

Emirates Computers, which offers IT infrastructure services, expects to employ approximately 150 people in Saudi Arabia, the company's business development and marketing manager Khaldoun Shamma told ITP.net recently.

The firm, which has offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, currently employs around 600 people in the UAE.

Regional expansion is an integral part of its growth strategy. It established operations in Qatar through a partnership with Ebrahim Al Neama Holding at the end of last year.