On the 19th June 2019, Microsoft launched two new cloud data centres in the United Arab Emirates – in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
These new cloud regions join Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure – one of the largest and most innovative in the world.
Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Office 365 are now available from the new cloud regions in the UAE and give local access for Middle East organizations, enterprises and developers to scalable, available and resilient cloud services to bring applications closer to users, while maintaining data residency, security and compliance needs.
“These new cloud regions in the UAE are the dawn of a new era, driving digital transformation, economic growth and job creation,” said Sayed Hashish, Regional General Manager, Microsoft Gulf. “We are committed to empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Now, more customers in the Middle East can move with confidence to the trusted and intelligent Microsoft Cloud. They will be more competitive as they start their digital transformation journeys – engaging customers, empowering employees, optimising operations, and reinventing products and services.”
Azure, is an ever-expanding set of cloud services, that offers computing, networking, databases, analytics, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT). Office 365 provides email, collaboration, conferencing, enterprise social networking and business intelligence.
Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, offer the next generation of intelligent business applications and tools, and are anticipated to be available from the cloud regions in the UAE by the end of 2019.
Microsoft provides expertise in data protection, security and privacy as well as the industry’s broadest set of compliance certifications to helpmanage compliance with supported industry standards and regulations such as ISO 27001/27018, SSAE 18 SOC, and GDPR.
Data residency in the UAE will help enable government organizations and enterprises to comply with in-country regulatory frameworks and decrease the obstacles for cloud adoption. This allows, for example, public sector departments to revitalize their service delivery with the ability to improve data gathering, promote teamwork, portal development and analytics.
Regional organizations of all sizes from across all industries have placed their trust in the Microsoft Cloud. These include the Emirates Group, Emaar Properties, Majid Al Futtaim, Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, Landmark Group, Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM), Miral, Daman Insurance, RAK Ceramics, Imdaad, Gulf Air, Viva, Kuwait Finance House, and Dubai World Trade Center.
Entities from sectors such as government, aviation, financial services, manufacturing and healthcare are among those that are already benefiting from the new cloud regions. These include Dubai Airports, Etihad Airways, Mubadala Development Company, Mashreq Bank, The First Group, Network International, and Shelf Drilling.
Microsoft has been working closely with Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) and Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) to enable compliant adoption of Cloud Services by the UAE government and semi-government entities. Microsoft is the first cloud service provider in the UAE to achieve DESC’s Cloud Service Provider certification.
