Microsoft plans to invest more than $10 billion across the Gulf

Microsoft Plans $10 Billion Gulf Push in Cloud and AI

Microsoft plans to invest more than $10 billion across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait by 2030, expanding its cloud and AI infrastructure in the Gulf. Vice Chair and President Brad Smith unveiled the plan on September 23, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and discussed it with Reuters.

The figure covers both capital and operating costs for new cloud and AI capacity, and includes earlier commitments such as Microsoft's previous UAE pledge. Microsoft did not disclose a country by country split, citing security concerns.

Separately, Microsoft plans more than $400 million for subsea and terrestrial networks across the Middle East by 2030. The spending builds on existing infrastructure such as the SeaMeWe-6 cable, which lands in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Smith said Microsoft is sustaining the investments it planned before the Iran conflict began on February 28, and adding to them, describing an aggressive spending schedule. He said the conflict has reinforced the link between digital resilience and digital sovereignty, which will anchor the company's regional strategy.

Partnerships remain central. Microsoft took a $1.5 billion minority stake in Abu Dhabi's G42 in 2024, and Smith holds a board seat. The company will deepen work with Saudi Arabia's Humain, Qatar's Qai and the Kuwaiti government, but has no plans for capital investment in Humain or Qai.

Microsoft has also pledged to train more than 4.2 million people across the four countries by 2030, and will introduce a network of dedicated cybersecurity champions to work with governments.

For the Gulf, the plan adds a large US hyperscaler commitment to a wider build out of sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure. For Microsoft, it extends a regional push that began with its G42 investment, and it now has a defined budget and timeline.