MID EAST Data Systems out-performed all competitors to become the UAE’s number one IT service provider during 2004, according to an authoritative independent survey.
The company captured an 11.8 per cent share of the $308.5 million market for IT support, training and education, system integration, outsourcing, software installation and customization.
Research by IDC, the independent international IT consultant, puts MDS 1.6 percentage points ahead of its nearest rival, moving the company to the top of the market-share rankings, up one place on 2003.
IDC reports that the market grew by 12.7 per cent during 2004, reflecting how clients are embracing different service models and more complex technologies that need specialist support skills.
Intense competition defines the market, which is dominated by local service providers. The top three players are all UAE companies – between them accounting for 30 per cent of the market – and only three multi-nationals appear in the top 10.
The government sector was responsible for 23.9 per cent of total spending, but the emergence of new government-owned IT services is shrinking the market for private sector operators and further intensifying competition.
Sami Abi Esber, president of MDS UAE Holdings, believes the company’s performance is particularly notable in the light of fierce competition and a demanding market environment.
“Becoming market leader demonstrates our ability to provide high-level and high-quality services at competitive prices,” he said.
“With a team of more than 300 employees working in MDS companies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we focus on a specific line of business offering customers specialised services for their IT requirements through a highly-trained team of certificated engineers and consultants.”
About MDS
MDS was established in the UAE in 1982 to serve the country's fledgling IT industry. Since then, MDS has since grown to 12 companies with operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai covering the UAE and the entire Middle East region. MDS UAE Holdings itself is a part of MDS Holdings.
Besides full implementation of enterprise software applications in different countries in the Middle East and Turkey, MDS offers turnkey site preparation, monitoring and stand-by power products and solutions. The company also specializes in the marketing, implementation and servicing of PCs, laptops, servers and peripherals, voice and data networks, multimedia and graphics, specialized software packages and after-sales support through its Help Desk and Call Centre.
The company enjoys expertise in system integration, by providing infrastructure solutions for data centre and enterprise customers based on Unix-based hardware, software solutions and storage solutions.
