Microsoft has deployed a cloud data center region in Qatar. With the debut of Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 in this cloud region in Qatar, the new cloud data center region would offer businesses access to hundreds of scalable and highly available Microsoft cloud services.
The new cloud data center region would play a pivotal role in providing access to Microsoft’s cloud services across the Qatar region and accelerating digital transformation.
“The launch of the cloud data center is considered an important milestone in the process of transforming the State of Qatar into an advanced and pioneering digital center in the Middle East and the world,” said H.E. Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Qatar’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology. “This journey was inspired by the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to establish a diversified and competitive national economy.”
His Excellency continued: “These pioneering projects in the field of digital transformation, communications and information technology would not have been achieved without the ambitions of the country’s wise leadership and its vision to this vital sector, believing in its crucial role in the development of other economic sectors. Legislative and legal regulation of the sector and enhance its attractiveness.”
Supporting Economic Growth in Qatar
Customers and partners of Microsoft in Qatar will experience growth and expansion thanks to the region’s cloud data centers in Qatar, stated Microsoft. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, TASMU PLATFORM, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and many other Microsoft clients from a wide variety of industries have already adopted the Microsoft Cloud to advance their businesses’ digital capabilities. EY, Ooredoo, Vodafone, QDS, PWC, ICT, Malomatia, Intel, Mannai, Meeza, Starlink, and Veeam are just a few of the Microsoft partners in the Qatar area.
“Microsoft has more data center regions than any other cloud provider and today we are proud to deliver the first hyperscale cloud datacenter region to Qatar,” said Ralph Haupter, President at Microsoft EMEA. “This development will increase opportunities for organizations of all sizes and across all sectors to leverage our trusted cloud to innovate, better serve their customers and achieve their business goals – ultimately supporting continued economic growth that benefits all residents.”
Building Future Ready Skills for Employability
Earlier this year, Microsoft, in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), launched the National Skilling Program, with the goal to upskill over 50,000 people in Qatar through providing digital skills acquisition programs over the next four years. Over 14,000 people have benefitted from the initiative thus far.
In conjunction with top institutions including MIT xPro, the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD), and HEC Paris, Microsoft has also built a first-of-its-kind Digital Center of Excellence to assist close the skills gap within the IT community and speed up digital transformation.
“With its longstanding history as an early adopter of technology, Qatar has completely embraced cloud solutions and revolutionized entire industries to develop a new, advanced digital economy,” said Lana Khalaf, Country General Manager Qatar at Microsoft. “Today’s announcement will enable the country to take these groundbreaking innovations to the world, showcase its standing as a leader in digital transformation and cement Qatar’s place as a global hub for innovation.”
