The mobile operator du is increasing efforts to recruit and identify the best web and mobile programmers in the region.
Du, which is sponsoring the Arabnet Developer Tournament, is also planning to launch an open platform for developers to make use of the company's networks for applications development.
"Du believes we need to be more visible and more present in the digital space. Part of our strategy is to evolve what we're doing from purely voice and SMS into a complete digital ecosystem by supporting development tournaments and harbouring entrepreneurs," said Samer Geissah, the vice president of innovation at du. "We are going down to grass roots and hope to grow a digital ecosystem in the UAE and Middle East and get the biggest app and digital services coming out of here."
The company has dedicated about 10 per cent of its budget to digital and is looking to support the development of regional skills and expertise. Du said it was also relaunching its social platform initiative Anayou.
The Arabnet Developer Tournament aims to identify the best developers in a region-wide competition with the finals set to take place in Dubai in June.
One competitor in Dubai's contest yesterday was Khalid Al Najjar, a final-year computer science student at Wollongong University in Dubai. He entered the competition to gain exposure for his skills.
"It definitely increases the opportunity to find jobs, a lot of companies will look for you after such an event, especially if you finish in the high ranks. It shows how experienced you are in the field. Companies don't need to test you or train you for such types of programming," he said.
