VMware will be using this year’s GITEX exhibition to gauge the uptake of virtualization among companies in the Middle East.

According to IDC, around 35% of servers purchased in Europe during 2007 were virtualized, with 52% of servers bought in 2008 also expected to be virtualized.

VMware accounts for 82% of all virtualization deployments, and so will be focusing on discussions with local CIOs on what strategies they have for virtualization and if they haven’t started using it, when they intend to do so.

Ghassan Darri, regional manager Middle East and Africa at VMware said: “In terms of enterprise IT virtualization, reports indicating a tremendous growth year show that the question is no longer if companies in the Middle East should virtualize, but when and how they should pursue virtualization to reap the benefits of simplified IT management, business continuity and disaster recovery while planning for future growth.”

VMware’s GITEX presence will include demonstrations of how to extend the benefits of virtualization through simplifying the process of server consolidation and giving customers the ability to pool and dynamically allocate applications and power resources.They will also be highlighting how virtualization can help companies become more green, with virtualization cutting up to 80% from annual electricity bills for some customers.