Microsoft has announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with the G42 Group to accelerate digital transformation in the UAE. This comes on the heels of Microsoft’s recent investment of $15.2 billion in the region.
The two companies unveiled a project to expand the data centers to a capacity of 200 megawatts, which will be executed through Khazna Data Centers, a subsidiary of G42. This expansion is expected to become operational by the end of 2026.
This development marks a new chapter in efforts to enable a digital future in the UAE through trust, technology, and talent development.
The expansion project is grounded in a shared commitment to principles of trust and responsible innovation. The partnership between Microsoft and G42 emphasizes the implementation of top-tier cybersecurity measures, data protection, and ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Additionally, the establishment of the “Responsible AI Future Foundation,” a collaboration between Microsoft, G42, and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, stands as a global model for developing responsible AI and enhancing governance frameworks.
The expanded data centers will provide world-class infrastructure for cloud computing and artificial intelligence in the UAE, thereby enhancing Microsoft Azure services and secure, scalable sovereign cloud solutions.
This investment supports the UAE’s national strategy for a digital economy, which aims to double the contribution of the digital economy to the GDP over the next decade.
Aligned with Microsoft’s commitment to train one million individuals in the UAE by 2027, this expansion opens new avenues for local talents in the fields of AI, cloud computing, and digital services.
The partnership has already led to the establishment of the “Global Engineering Development Center” and the “AI for Good Lab” in Abu Dhabi. Brad Smith, Vice Chairman and President of Microsoft, stated, “This expansion is not just about building data centers; it’s a step toward empowering the future of the UAE.”
Bing Xiao, CEO of G42, remarked, “Our partnership with Microsoft contributes to our vision of building the ‘Intelligence Network,’ a connected infrastructure of intelligence designed to empower individuals, sectors, and nations in the age of AI.