Microsoft and G42 are helping the UAE to move ahead with its digitization efforts by increasing the capacity of data centres. This initiative marks the ambitions of the UAE to become an international hub for AI technology.
The companies aim to add 200 megawatts (MW) in capacity, thereby increasing the UAE’s capability to process intensive cloud and AI data workloads.
This effort will be implemented via Khazna Data Centres, which is among the biggest providers of such infrastructures in the region. The project expects that the new facilities will come online in the UAE starting in 2026.
This will eventually create more robust infrastructure for enterprise operations, government agencies, and innovations in AI. As demand for computing capabilities rises worldwide, the UAE will need to develop its own infrastructure to handle these tasks.
The new project will enhance Microsoft Azure's capabilities, thereby enabling more secure cloud solutions in line with UAE law. In particular, it will be highly useful for the following sectors:
Financial
Healthcare
Public services
The processing of information in these sectors requires adherence to special requirements. Thus, the use of AI will help to speed up the process and reduce human labor.
The development represents an extension of an already quickly expanding relationship. Before this, Microsoft had announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, indicating its long-term belief in the future of AI in the region. This new development sees the partnership evolve from an investment model to an infrastructure framework.
In light of global efforts by various governments to gain dominance in the AI industry, the United Arab Emirates has doubled down. The aim is to shift towards creating the necessary digital infrastructure.