The new cloud datacenter region launches with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365, giving organizations access to hundreds of scalable, highly available, and resilient cloud services.
Yesterday, Microsoft announced the launch of its new datacenter region in Qatar, marking a major milestone for Microsoft as the first hyper-scale cloud provider to deliver enterprise-grade services in the country.
The new world-class data centers are open for business with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365. The continued investment is in response to Qatar’s growing demand for high-performance computing, and fast and reliable access to Microsoft services.
The new datacenter region will play a pivotal role in providing access to scalable, highly available, and resilient cloud services to accelerate the digital transformation and advance intelligent cloud adoption of businesses, customers, and partners across Qatar.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, H.E. Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said: “The launch of the Data Centre today 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.”
“This journey was inspired by the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to establish a diversified and competitive national economy”, Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai added.
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 for this vital sector, believing in its crucial role in the development of other economic sectors. Legislative and legal regulation of the sector enhances its attractiveness.
Ralph Haupter, President of Microsoft EMEA said, “Microsoft has more datacenter regions than any other cloud provider and today we are proud to deliver the first hyperscale cloud datacenter region to Qatar.”
“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,” said Ralph Haupter.
Providing new opportunities for customers and partners
The Qatar cloud datacenter region will drive growth and scale for Microsoft customers and partners in the country.
Microsoft customers across multiple industries, including the Ministry of Communication and Information technology, TASMU PLATFORM, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and many others, have already embraced the Microsoft Cloud to develop digital capabilities and innovate in their industries.
Microsoft partners such as EY, Ooredoo, Vodafone, QDS, PWC, ICT, Malomatia, Intel, Mannai, Meeza, Starlink, and Veeam are delivering transformative solutions across the Microsoft Cloud to drive customer success.
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 by providing digital skills acquisition programs over the next four years. To date, the program had benefited over 14,000 people.
Microsoft has also established a first-of-its-kind Digital Center of Excellence to help bridge the skills gap amongst the IT community and help accelerate digital transformation, in collaboration with leading universities such as MIT xPro, the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD), and HEC Paris.
Delivering reliable, trusted, and resilient cloud, securely
Businesses of all sizes and industries can now host their cloud workloads in Microsoft’s Qatar datacenter, taking advantage of enterprise-grade reliability and performance. Customers can begin leveraging Microsoft Azure to develop advanced applications using AI, data and analytics, IoT and hybrid capabilities with advanced digital security and more, as well as Microsoft 365, the world’s productivity cloud that delivers best-of-breed productivity apps delivered seamlessly through cloud services.
With over 100 compliance offerings – the broadest set of compliance offerings and programs of any public cloud provider – the Microsoft cloud significantly empowers customers to meet local compliance and policy requirements.
This includes the National Information Assurance Certification issued by the National Cyber Security Agency, which Microsoft received earlier this year.
“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. 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,” said Lana Khalaf, Microsoft Country Manager.
