Microsoft to Invest Over $10 Billion in Gulf Region by 2030
Microsoft has announced plans to invest more than $10 billion across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait by 2030. The investment will focus on cloud and AI infrastructure as well as regional operations, according to Vice Chair and President Brad Smith.
The move reflects Microsoft's continued expansion of its infrastructure in the region, which has seen Gulf countries heavily investing in AI infrastructure to diversify their economies beyond oil and gas. This investment is also driven by the relatively low-cost energy available in these countries, attracting major cloud and AI providers.
Smith described the spending schedule as 'aggressive,' stating that Microsoft will be sustaining all previously planned investments and adding more. The company has already supported regional partners with digital resilience assessments since February 28 and is now working on preparedness and protection of critical data through a digital resilience initiative.