‘Microsoft cloud data centre region to add $18bn to Qatar’s economy in next 5 years’

The Microsoft cloud data centre region in Qatar, which was opened yesterday during a launch event held in Doha, would be supporting the country’s economy and people, as well as efforts on sustainability, an official said on Wednesday.

“We’re adding more than $18bn and more than 36,000 new jobs to the economy over the next five years,” said Microsoft country manager Lana Khalaf on the sidelines of a press conference on Wednesday.During the press conference, Khalaf provided a preview of the launching of Qatar’s first hyperscale cloud data centre region held under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in partnership with Microsoft.Khalaf stressed that the launching of the first global data centre region in Qatar will position the country as a digital hub in the region and the world, supporting Qatar National Vision 2030 toward a sustainable, diversified economy.“This data centre has the largest number of cloud services since the history of Microsoft. It helps companies in major industries to accelerate their digital transformation and innovate from Qatar to the world.“This will be the first global data centre that will be launched in Qatar. It will connect Qatar to the largest cloud infrastructure in the world with more than 140 countries. The data centre will contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030 with three main pillars: the economy, people, and sustainability,” Khalaf explained.She added: “Also, our investment is not only on technology but in people. In collaboration with the MCIT, we previously launched the Digital Centre of Excellence, which aims to skill, re-skill, and digitally skill more than 50,000 people by 2025.“On Microsoft’s commitment to sustainability, the cloud data centre will enable anybody utilising Microsoft’s cloud services to be 93% more energy efficient and 98% more carbon efficient.”Microsoft customers across industries, including the MCIT, through its national initiatives, such as Tasmu Platform and Qatar Digital Government, as well as the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and many others, have already embraced the Microsoft Cloud to develop digital capabilities and innovate in their industries. In 2021, MCIT partnered with a global consortium of partners led by Ooredoo to initiate the Tasmu Platform, a one-of-a-kind, ground-breaking, smart city solution. Microsoft has played a vital role as a global technology enabler throughout this collaboration. “In our continued, unwavering efforts to build a ‘smart Qatar’ that is digitally-powered and innovation-driven, we are committed to harnessing the power of integrated cloud-based technologies to offer endless potential value to the people of Qatar,” said Reem Mohamed al-Mansoori, assistant undersecretary of Digital Society Development at MCIT.The Microsoft cloud data centre region in Qatar will drive growth and scale the more than 100 Microsoft partners in the country, as well as global partners looking to establish themselves in Qatar. Microsoft partners, such as EY, Ooredoo, Vodafone, QDS, PwC, ICT, Malomatia, Intel, Mannai, Meeza, Starlink, Veeam, and more, are delivering transformative solutions across the Microsoft Cloud to drive customer success. More than 70% of Qatari startups are on the Microsoft Founders Hub. These startups have the potential to go on and become the next unicorns of their industries. Also, a minimum of 11 global partners and ISV established operations in Qatar last year.IDC’s research also sheds light on downstream revenues generated by Microsoft’s partner ecosystem. The findings reveal that for every $1 of Microsoft cloud-generated revenue, the partner ecosystem is expected to generate $7.87 by 2026, up from $6.41 by 2023.Ends