Diona and GBM launch ground-breaking new technologies for Qatar

Minister Bruton announces new partnership between Irish firm Diona and GBM based on the success of their work with the Qatari Ministry.

Diona, the innovative mobility solutions provider for government and health agencies, has announced the signing of a commercial business partnership with Gulf Business Machines (GBM), the leading provider of customized IT solutions in the Gulf region. The partnership builds on work carried out by Diona together with GBM on the establishment of new social security programmes in Qatar.

The agreement between Diona and GBM follows on from the first Middle East implementation of IBM Cúram, a social welfare management software solution, for the Qatari Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA).  GBM is a leading distributor of IBM systems in the Gulf region.

Diona’s Mobility solution has extended the reach of the Cúram solution by providing Qatari clients and social workers with mobile access to MOLSA's services across a range of devices including tablets and phones.

Launched both in English and Arabic, the MOLSA initiative is the first programme of its kind to be launched in the Middle East.  It will serve Qatari residents’ requests and requirements for social services, including families in need.  It is also the first time that the programme has ever been implemented in the Arabic language.

As part of the deployment, dashboards were provided to all MOLSA management to support them in making accurate decisions and to monitor project development.

MOLSA is now able to provide an integrated online platform that provides MOLSA professionals and users with access to information, applications and services.  This will significantly reduce manual work, minimise errors and will help social care workers across all of their functions.

On his trade mission to the Middle East, Ireland’s Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, attended the signing of the partnership at GBM’s offices in West Bay, Doha.   He was accompanied by the Irish Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Patrick Hennessy. 

Minister Bruton said, “The Diona and GBM partnership is an excellent example of the possibilities of technology, and I look forward to seeing this new relationship grow. It is fantastic to see these types of bilateral partnerships come to fruition so successfully and with such long-term vision in place.”

Soubhi Chebib, General Manager, GBM Qatar said,  "MOLSA has embarked on a project that will streamline and automate 11 social support programmes running in the country.  This is also the first time the system has been implemented in the Arabic language.  Our growing relationship with Diona will help both parties to play an even greater role in furthering Qatar’s leading role in the IT sector and the adoption of mobility-ready services in the Arab world.”

Graham Stubbs, CEO and Co-Founder of Diona said, “GBM is the number one provider of IT solutions provider operating across the six Middle Eastern Countries which form the Gulf Co-operation Council economic region. This is therefore an excellent new partnership for Diona.  It builds on the great work we have carried out with GBM implementing our mobility solutions and systems for this very important project.”