In line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital and AI goals, the Microsoft Azure region will be located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and will include three availability zones, each with separate power, cooling and networking infrastructure.

The region is designed to provide high levels of security, reliability and resilience, allowing government entities and key industries to operate cloud and AI workloads with low latency and local data storage.

Once operational, the Saudi Arabia East region will become part of Microsoft’s global cloud network of more than 70 Azure regions across 33 countries.

According to the technology giant, the focus is now on helping organisations prepare by modernising data systems, improving governance and developing digital skills to move from pilot projects to full production.

H.E. Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said: “This milestone reflects Saudi Arabia’s continued progress in building advanced, trusted AI infrastructure that supports our ambition to become an AI-enabled nation.

“We thank Microsoft for its strategic investment in the foundations of the AI economy in Saudi Arabia, enabling the Kingdom to serve as a platform for global progress. Our collaboration with leading global technology partners is strengthening a secure and resilient digital and AI ecosystem that empowers innovation, enhances competitiveness, and supports sustainable national growth.”

Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, added: “Around the world, governments and institutions are seeking cloud infrastructure that combines innovation with trust, resilience and respect for national requirements.

“Our long-term investment in Saudi Arabia reflects a shared commitment to building secure, sovereign-ready digital foundations that enable countries to adopt cloud and AI with confidence. As organisations prepare to run workloads in the Kingdom, our focus remains on supporting responsible technology deployment that strengthens economic growth, public services, and digital stability over the long term.”

Turki Badhris, president of Microsoft Arabia, concluded: “Confirming that customers will be able to run cloud workloads from our Saudi Arabia East data centre region in Q4 2026 provides organisations with clarity and confidence as they plan their digital and AI journeys.

“Across Saudi Arabia, we are working closely with government entities, enterprises, and partners to support readiness – from data modernisation and governance to skills development – so customers can move from experimentation to production with confidence. This milestone reflects our long-term commitment to enabling meaningful, scalable impact for the Kingdom’s public and private sectors.”

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