Microsoft to commit over $10 billion to cloud and AI projects across the Gulf by 2030

Microsoft announced a commitment of more than $10 billion to be deployed across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait by the end of the decade, targeting cloud and artificial-intelligence infrastructure as well as digital-resilience services. Brad Smith, the company’s Vice Chair and President, described the effort as both an expansion of existing operations and a new build-out of facilities, with an additional $400 million earmarked for subsea and terrestrial connectivity projects.

The firm will deepen ties with regional AI players, including a minority stake and board seat in Abu Dhabi’s G42, while collaborating with Saudi firm Humain and Qatar’s Qai on selected priority areas. Smith emphasized that the spending plan is being maintained and even expanded despite the Iran war and recent cyber-physical attacks on data-centres in Bahrain and the UAE. Microsoft has also been providing digital-resilience assessments to local partners from the conflict’s outset, though it declined to disclose a country-by-country investment breakdown for security considerations.