Grant Thornton’s UAE business has inked a partnership with Oreta, an Australian IT company that specializes in cloud, cybersecurity and ICT network infrastructure.

The partnership will see Grant Thornton deepen its offerings in cloud and cybersecurity, combining its business advisory and digital consulting capabilities with Oreta’s tech knowhow and solutions.

Hisham Farouk, the CEO of Grant Thornton in the UAE, said the collaboration will help Grant Thornton better serve its clients navigate the rapid pace of technological change, with cloud and network infrastructure key components that drive the transition to digital maturity. Doing so in a safe and secure manner is essential for reputation and operational resilience, this is where cybersecurity comes in.

“The rapid pace of technological change, especially in regions like the UAE, calls for robust and scalable infrastructure solutions. This partnership will help us meet the evolving technology needs of businesses and help them gain a competitive edge and accelerate innovation,” he said.

Farouk added that Grant Thornton is delighted to team up with a firm that enjoys a leading position in its home market. Since founding in 2015 in Melbourne, Oreta has built partnerships with over 200 businesses throughout Australia, completing over 150 projects and serviced over 1,400 network sites. The firm meanwhile is a member of major technology vendors such as Microsoft, Google, Equinix, Cisco, VMware, Checkpoint, and Palo Alto.

The partnership will in addition bring a combined set of AI capabilities to Grant Thornton’s clients. “AI has the potential to steer organisations toward delivering exceptional outcomes. Our partnership with Oreta aligns with the National AI Strategy 2031 and further expands our AI services to support businesses’ evolving needs with advanced solutions,” Farouk stated.

Hisham Farouk (Grant Thornton) and Sachin Verma (Oreta)

According to research from McKinsey & Company, the potential of AI could eclipse $150 billion in the coming years for the GCC economies, with the UAE one of the top beneficiaries alongside Saudi Arabia.

Sachin Verma, Founder and Managing Director of Oreta, said that Oreta has established itself as a leading service provider in the AI space, and now aims to bring its expertise to the UAE market. “Our partnership with Grant Thornton provides the perfect platform to combine our strengths. Together, we can scale our services and deliver exceptional value to Grant Thornton customers, particularly in the areas of AI, cloud and security.”

Grant Thornton will roll out the Oreta partnership across its UAE offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.