In the era of the internet of things, where technology is fast changing the way

people work, live and spend leisure time, being fluent in computer languages and
data sciences is turning into an essential skill. Among UAE-based employers, 88 per
cent say they need employees with analytics skills, itself an 88 per growth from 47
per cent of employers in 2014, according to the Workforce 2020 report by Oxford
Economics and SAP SE data.
The UAE aims to become the innovation benchmark for smart cities worldwide. A
Huawei and Navigant report that studied the strategy and execution of smart city
campaigns in the region declared Dubai the Middle East�s leading smart city due to
its high-tech infrastructure and implementation of several smart initiatives.

As the UAE drives digital transformation and becomes a smart hub, careers in coding
and analytics will continue to gain importance, says Hichem Maya, Head of
Industries � Middle East and North Africa at SAP. �Coding and analytics are
particularly useful in rapidly digitising industry verticals such as the government
and public sector, banking and finance, healthcare, retail and sport.
�While industry analysts estimate that two-thirds of careers of the future do not
yet exist, we do know that coding and analytics provide the critical thinking and
collaboration experience that UAE employers value. SAP is dedicated to hiring
talented coders.�
Other careers will depend on big data. The proliferation of the internet means a
lot of information about users is now being collected. The correct analysis of this
data can serve to benefit almost any organisation, including governmental entities,
says Dr Mohammad Watfa, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Engineering and
Information Sciences, University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD).

�In the UAE, big data is now omnipresent, and the technologies to collect and store
it are expanding day after day, from Salik tags to online shopping trends. The
problem is that good analysis can be difficult. Selecting which problems can be
solved, then picking which are useful and which ones we can gain substantial value
and understanding from requires expertise. Data analysts in the UAE are rare, so
there is high demand for such skills.�
Courses to check out
UAE universities are refining their major offerings in computer science and IT to
address this new demand.
UOWD�s computer sciences undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will offer two
new subjects � big data analysis and data mining techniques � as electives. The
university will introduce advanced data analysis as a new masters/PhD subject. It
teaches students to perform advanced diagnostics using MATLAB, R, BUGS/JAGS and
other tools, as well as writing independent code. Another programme on big data
analysis will begin next year.
The undergrad programme at Heriot-Watt University (HWU) Dubai includes subjects on
big data management, computer security and games programming. A new master�s in
data science will be introduced in September to meet demand from working
professionals.
�Our graduates find employment in a broad range of sectors in the UAE and abroad,�
says Stephen Gill, Academic Head, School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, HWU
Dubai Campus. �These include finance, banking, logistics, computing, health and
energy. I foresee significant demand for people that can design, implement, and
manage systems. Besides, students who start a career now in coding can easily move
later into either management or areas such as security or data management.�
Certified skill set
Several certification courses are also available in the UAE related to coding and
data analysis, for business professionals in finance, marketing and IT to augment
their CVs.
To name a few, Meirc Training & Consulting and Informa Middle East offer training
courses on data analysis in business intelligence. The SAP Training and Development
Centre�s upskilling programmes have public-private partnerships such as the annual
Africa Code Week and Refugee Code Week initiatives, which train thousands of people
in coding.
Dr Watfa sees an automated future that will nevertheless require human intervention
in terms of problem-solving. �Students should advance their knowledge on tools and
techniques that are hard to learn and would set them apart in the real world,� he
says.
Smart choice
Alphin Edgar D�cruz, a 20-year-old bachelor of computer science student at
University of Wollongong, is passionate about designing programs and wants to build
a career in the field. �Using data to simplify everyday life has always been an
intriguing topic to me and learning about coding and algorithms feels like a
thrilling journey towards the future of smart cities. In our university, we learn
advanced programming, algorithms, memory management and networking concepts both
theoretically and practically.�
When applying for a driving license and a blue Nol card, D�cruz was asked to submit
a variety of documents and fill up long forms. While doing so, he wondered how easy
it would be if things were automated. �Why couldn�t I just submit one piece of ID
or perhaps a biometric scan and be done with it, and they pull my information off
of a database? The future, I envision, does away with these hassles to make
everything a seamless experience.�
He foresees demand for data analysts increasing, along with the skill ceiling for
the job. However, he is confident that the code design practices he will continue
to receive for the next few years will give him an edge in the future job market.