Piyush P Jul 12, 2024

Top 7 Microsoft Azure Certifications for IT Professionals in Dubai

Are you thinking about pursuing Microsoft Azure? unable to decide which Azure certification would be ideal for you to get a competitive edge as an IT professional in Dubai? We are here to help you with the right suggestions. 

The cloud computing industry is growing exponentially globally with Microsoft Azure emerging as the dominant player. You probably are already familiar with what is Microsoft Azure. Nevertheless, Microsoft Azure is the most prominent cloud service provider of modern enterprises. Azure is Microsoft’s operating system for cloud computing. According to Forbes, Microsoft Azure is one of the top certificates to put on your resume. IT professionals in Dubai seeking lucrative careers must obtain Azure certifications to gain a competitive edge. 

Top Microsoft Azure Certifications for IT Professionals in Dubai

Microsoft certifications for IT professionals in Dubai provide excellent career opportunities and offer an edge compared to others. Here are the Top 7 Microsoft Azure Certifications for IT Professionals in Dubai;
 
  • Azure Fundamentals (AF-900)
  • Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
  • Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)
  • Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)
  • Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203)
  • Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-301)
  • Microsoft Azure Fundamentals for IT decision makers (DP-900)

1. Azure Fundamentals (AF-900)

It is one of the most popular Azure Certifications in Dubai known to test basic cloud concepts and Azure services at a high level. This Azure Certifications for IT Professionals establishes fundamental knowledge in 150 minutes.

The exam comprises 55-65 questions evaluating knowledge of core Azure architecture covering computing, storage, networking and security services. Questions also cover billing, service level agreements, support options and database concepts.

According to the recent market research report, the UAE Cloud Computing Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 36.12% during the forecast period, i.e., 2024–30. Azure cloud services are predominantly used by businesses and organisations today. This has undeniably led to a vast increase in job opportunities. 

Azure Fundamentals is a good first step for those new to the cloud or considering a move. It prepares professionals to effectively communicate the benefits of cloud migrations to organisations in Dubai facing technology transitions. Clearing this opens doors to entry-level AWS roles helping big companies.

  • Azure Fundamentals Skills
    • Basic cloud concepts
    • Azure services
    • core Azure architecture
    • billing
    • service level agreements
    • database concepts
  • Azure Fundamentals Career Opportunities
    • Entry-level cloud roles
    • cloud migration consultant
  • Azure Fundamentals Job Roles
    • Cloud Support Associate
    • Cloud Consultant
    • Cloud Solutions Architect
  • Azure Fundamentals Average Salary
    • AED 120,000 - AED 160,000 per year

2. Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)

As managing cloud infrastructure becomes key for the biggest companies that use cloud computing platforms such as AWS or Microsoft Azure, the demand for Azure administrators is immense. The Azure Administrator Associate exam evaluates abilities to create and manage Azure artefacts and resources via labs and multiple-choice questions.

The 4-hour long exam has 55-65 questions testing knowledge of virtual machines, networking, storage, identity, security, backups, replication, monitoring and other Azure management capabilities. Candidates are expected to demonstrate the ability to automate tasks using tools like Azure CLI and PowerShell.

Clearing this proves competency in hands-on administration of enterprise-grade workloads on Azure. It readies individuals for technical support, infrastructure and services administration jobs with companies relying on Azure in Dubai.

  •  Azure Administrator Associate Skills
    • Azure artefacts and resources management
    • virtual machines
    • networking
    • storage
    • identity
    • security
    • backups
    • replication
    • monitoring
    • automation tools (Azure CLI, PowerShell)
  •  Azure Administrator Associate Career Opportunities
    • Azure administrator
    • cloud infrastructure management roles
  •  Azure Administrator Associate Job Roles
    • Azure Administrator
    • Cloud Operations Engineer
    • Cloud Infrastructure Specialist
  •  Azure Administrator Associate Average Salary
    • AED 160,000 - AED 220,000 per year

3. Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)

As app modernisation gathers pace on the cloud, Azure Developer Associate validates essential Microsoft Azure skills required to progress ahead.

The exam comprises 55-65 questions around platform topics like App Service, API Management, Cosmos DB, Storage, Functions and Security testing abilities to build and deploy scalable solutions across devices and platforms.

Candidates are evaluated on their aptitude to create web and mobile apps using tools like Visual Studio Code, develop Azure data and analytics solutions and implement authentication, authorisation and secure access controls on apps. Achieving this certification boosts prospects as cloud developers.  

  • Azure Developer Associate Skills
    • App Service
    • API Management
    • Cosmos DB
    • Storage
    • Functions
    • security
    • Visual Studio Code
    • Azure data and analytics solutions
    • authentication, authorisation
  • Azure Developer Associate Career Opportunities
    • Cloud developer
    • application modernisation specialist
  • Azure Developer Associate Job Roles
    • Azure Developer
    • Cloud Solutions Developer
    • Application Modernization Engineer
  • Azure Developer Associate Average Salary
    • AED 180,000 - AED 240,000 per year

4. Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)

Artificial intelligence technologies are enhancing business values. According to statista, the market size of the Artificial Intelligence market in the UAE market is projected to reach US$949.80m in 2024. Businesses and organisations have started to embrace the full potential of AI, unlocking a wealth of job opportunities.

Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) certification can open up job opportunities and help you in career advancement. This 4-hour AI-102 certification exam evaluates capabilities to implement Azure workflows, including computer vision, NLP, bot services, and Azure Machine Learning.

The 55-65 questions cover topics like preparing data, training and deploying models, using Vision and Language services and managing resources using the web UI, code and automation. It validates comprehension of Azure AI tools to solve business problems by integrating AI functionality in solutions.

Earning this certification leads to specialised AI/ML engineering roles with the biggest companies that use AWS in Dubai given the rapidly growing importance of cognitive services. 

  • Azure AI Engineer Associate Skills
    • ML workflows
    • computer vision
    • NLP
    • bot services
    • Azure Machine Learning
    • data preparation
    • model training and deployment
    • Azure AI tools
  • Azure AI Engineer Associate Career Opportunities
    • AI/ML engineering roles
    • cognitive services specialist
  • Azure AI Engineer Associate Job Roles
    • Azure AI Engineer
    • ML Engineer
    • Cognitive Services Specialist
  • Azure AI Engineer Associate Average Salary
    • AED 200,000 - AED 280,000 per year

5. Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203)

Data processing on the cloud is crucial for digital transformations. This exam tests knowledge of Azure tools and services oriented towards data consumption, movement and management engagements.

The 4-hour exam features 55-65 questions from areas like data ingestion, preparation, management, analytics and visualisation using Synapse Analytics, Data Factory, Data Lake Storage, Power BI and more.

Candidates must display skills to work with streaming and batch data, create data pipelines and ensure governance, availability, security and monitoring of databases. Clearing this prepares professionals to architect scalable cloud data platforms.

  • Azure Data Engineer Associate Skills
    • Data ingestion
    • preparation
    • management
    • analytics
    • visualisation
    • Synapse Analytics
    • Data Factory
    • Data Lake Storage
    • Power BI
    • data pipelines
    • governance
  • Azure Data Engineer Associate Career Opportunities
    • Cloud data engineer
    • data platform architect
  • Azure Data Engineer Associate Job Roles
    • Azure Data Engineer
    • Data Platform Architect
    • Big Data Engineer
  • Azure Data Engineer Associate Average Salary
    • AED 180,000 - AED 240,000 per year

6. Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-301)

These advanced Azure Certifications for IT Professionals evaluate expert-level skills to design end-to-end solutions on Azure meeting compliance and resilience criteria.

The 4-hour exam comprises 55-65 questions from areas like cloud architecture designs, infrastructure provisioning, security, identity, governance and cost controls implementation.

It validates the ability to leverage multiple Azure services for building solutions based on customer needs and budgets. Earning this certification leads to premier roles as Azure solution architects, transitioning technical leaders into cloud strategic roles.

  •  Azure Solutions Architect Expert Skills
    • Cloud architecture designs
    • infrastructure provisioning
    • security
    • identity
    • governance
    • cost controls
    • leveraging multiple Azure services
  •  Azure Solutions Architect Expert Career Opportunities
    • Azure solutions architect
    • cloud strategic roles
  •  Azure Solutions Architect Expert Job Roles
    • Azure Solutions Architect
    • Cloud Architect
    • Cloud Strategy Consultant
  •  Azure Solutions Architect Expert Average Salary
    • AED 220,000 - AED 300,000 per year

7. Microsoft Azure Fundamentals for IT decision makers (DP-900)

As more global companies move critical workloads to the cloud, this exam prepares C-level and management professionals to make prudent data-driven cloud adoption decisions.

The 1.5-hour multiple-choice exam covers basic cloud concepts, identity, governance, privacy, compliance and management techniques aspects of Azure beneficial for non-technical stakeholders and business decision-makers.

Passing this reinforces professional credibility for advising on cloud migrations and investments at senior levels across industries in Dubai's evolving digital landscape.

  • Microsoft Azure Fundamentals for IT decision makers Skills
    • Basic cloud concepts
    • identity
    • governance
    • privacy
    • Compliance
    • management techniques on Azure
  • Microsoft Azure Fundamentals for IT decision makers Career Opportunities
    • Cloud adoption consultant
    • technology advisor
  • Microsoft Azure Fundamentals for IT decision makers Job Roles
    • Cloud Adoption Consultant
    • IT Decision Maker
    • Technology Advisor
  • Microsoft Azure Fundamentals for IT decision makers Average Salary
    • Varies based on existing roles and responsibilities

Final Thoughts

In summary, acquiring any of these key Azure certifications builds expert profiles for IT professionals in Dubai eyeing top jobs at cloud-enabled biggest companies that use AWS as the UAE increasingly goes digital. Partnerships with Microsoft programs can help gain certifications cost-effectively too. If you are thinking about pursuing any of the given certification courses, then do not hesitate and consider getting yourself registered with Edoxi Training Institute. You get the best faculty and resources at service to enhance your chances of getting the certification done without any hassle. Good luck!

Microsoft Azure Certified Data Science Trainer

Piyush P is a Microsoft-Certified Data Scientist and Technical Trainer with 12 years of development and training experience. He is now part of Edoxi Training Institute's expert training team and imparts technical training on Microsoft Azure Data Science. While being a certified trainer of Microsoft Azure, he seeks to increase his data science and analytics efficiency. 

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