Secure data platforms for the UAE’s key assets

UAE

Nayef Bou Chaaya, vice-president of the Middle East and Africa for AVEVA, talks to The Energy Year about bringing data and process management solutions to energy-intensive industries and the company’s high expectations for the planned debut of its CONNECT platform in the Middle East in 2025. AVEVA is a British multinational industrial software company that develops cloud platforms and applications for a wide range of industries.

What are some of AVEVA’s offerings for the energy industry?
Many of the technologies within the AVEVA portfolio are designed to help clients achieve their operational goals. One key area is predictive analytics, which leverages AI and machine learning to anticipate potential equipment failures weeks or even months in advance. This is crucial in preventing costly unplanned shutdowns, which not only disrupt operations but also pose serious safety risks.
Aramco is currently using AVEVA’s technology to monitor and manage 2,500 assets, with an ongoing project set to expand that to more assets. AVEVA has significant capabilities for critical infrastructure management and has also been signed on as a project partner by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company.
Another major business area for the company is process optimisation. AVEVA’s real-time optimisation solutions allow companies to run their processes more efficiently, reducing fuel consumption while maintaining operational performance. For example, in energy-intensive industries where burning fuel is necessary to generate electricity or run processes, these solutions ensure that resources are used as efficiently as possible, directly supporting sustainability initiatives.

Can you provide an overview of AVEVA’s CONNECT platform?
CONNECT is an industrial intelligence platform built on Microsoft Azure cloud technology that offers a cloud-based solution for real-time data and process management. Through CONNECT Data Services, clients can securely store and share subsets of their real-time data, enabling seamless collaboration across teams, whether locally or regionally.
A key innovation of CONNECT is its ability to integrate both process data and engineering data – including 1D, 2D and 3D formats – creating a comprehensive digital twin on the cloud. This holistic approach allows companies to gain deeper insights into their operations, enhancing efficiency and decision making.
By enabling secure, bi-directional data communication, CONNECT eliminates the traditional inefficiencies of data sharing, such as relying on emails or unsecured platforms. Clients can share critical data with OEMs, partners or investors in a controlled and protected manner. Furthermore, the platform’s integration with advanced data analytics and AI tools opens new opportunities for optimisation, predictive maintenance and performance improvement.
The expansion of CONNECT to include engineering data will further enhance collaboration within the broader industrial ecosystem, reinforcing the link between data-driven insights and innovation.

What are the key challenges to implementing AVEVA’s CONNECT platform?
One of the biggest challenges for CONNECT in the Middle East and Africa is data residency, particularly in industries such as oil and gas and power, because government and corporate regulations prevent companies from storing process data on cloud servers outside the country. For that reason, CONNECT is not available within the region at the moment, meaning that clients would have to store their data in locations outside the Middle East, something that many are unwilling to do.
To address this, an initiative is underway to bring CONNECT to Abu Dhabi, leveraging Microsoft’s data centre there. Discussions are under way to make this a reality and the idea is to create a localised cloud environment that meets regional data security and compliance requirements, making it easier for companies to adopt the platform.
The biggest opportunity is with the major oil and gas companies in the Gulf, and the hope is that by 2025 or early 2026, CONNECT will be fully operational in Abu Dhabi. This would unlock significant capabilities for businesses and enable them to take full advantage of AVEVA’s industrial intelligence solutions while remaining compliant with regional regulations.

What are AVEVA’s key priorities for 2025?
In the Middle East and Africa region, the focus remains on supporting clients with their sustainability and net-zero plans, aligning with both 2030 and 2050 targets. Another objective is to drive business growth by diversifying beyond oil and gas into new markets.
Educational programmes continue to be a strategic priority, as we want the workforce to be equipped with the necessary skills to drive digital adoption, and strengthening the company’s regional presence is also a priority. AVEVA’s offices in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are not just sales hubs but also include pre-sales, customer support and delivery teams. This proximity allows clients to accelerate their digital transformation with direct local support rather than remote assistance.
The planned launch of CONNECT in Abu Dhabi in 2025 will be a major milestone, and success in the UAE will pave the way for expansion across the region. The expectation is that successful implementation in Abu Dhabi will drive wider adoption, unlocking substantial growth opportunities for both clients and AVEVA.

Do you think the market understands the impact that AI can have on businesses?
Educating both ourselves and our clients on AI is essential, and the key is to focus on use cases. What specific challenges need to be addressed? Is the goal to reduce emissions, optimise processes, cut costs, enhance safety or increase profitability? AI must be applied with purpose, not just as a vague concept.
The right approach is to first understand the client’s problems and objectives. Only then can we determine if AVEVA, along with its partners, has the right AI-infused product or platform to deliver meaningful results. Bringing in technology without a clear problem to solve is ineffective, and this is why many digital transformation initiatives fail – because companies invest in AI tools without a concrete strategy, relevant use cases or the right data to support them.
Since AI is heavily data-dependent, without the right data infrastructure, AI technology becomes nothing more than a shelf product. The focus should always be on defining the problem first, ensuring the right data is available and then integrating AI solutions to drive real value.

Read our latest insights on:

• Egypt
• Multinational
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE