Microsoft plans to invest more than US$10 billion in capital and operating expenses in the Middle East by 2030, initially focusing on Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, to expand cloud and AI infrastructure.

The plan also includes more than US$400 million by 2030 for subsea and terrestrial connectivity.

Microsoft said the investment will expand network capacity and support continuity during disruptions, as the region remains a key routing point connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Microsoft said it will deepen partnerships with governments and what it called national AI champion organizations.

The company also plans to offer sovereign cloud, cybersecurity, and digital resilience capabilities, as Gulf states push for digital sovereignty and tighter control over sensitive data.

Microsoft also said it will continue investing in AI skills and workforce readiness in the region, building on an existing commitment to help more than 4.2 million people gain skills by 2030.

In Saudi Arabia, the company has separately said it aims to help 3 million people acquire AI skills by then.

The announcement adds to the Gulf push into AI and cloud infrastructure involving US technology firms.

🔗 Source: Microsoft

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