Microsoft has confirmed that customers will be able to run cloud workloads from its Saudi Arabia East data center region from Q4 2026. The new Microsoft Azure cloud data center region, located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, will include three availability zones, each with independent power, cooling, and networking infrastructure.
In a press release, the company said that the data center region aimed to “deliver enterprise-grade reliability, security, and resilience” and that it will “enable organizations across government and key industries in the Kingdom to run mission-critical cloud and AI workloads with low latency, data residency, and high availability.”
Commenting during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft, said, “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 organizations 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, Microsoft Arabia, added, “Confirming that customers will be able to run cloud workloads from our Saudi Arabia East data center region in Q4 2026 provides organizations 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 modernization 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.”
The development of this new data center region is in line with Saudi Arabia’s digital and AI ambitions under Vision 2030. Over the past year, Microsoft has been collaborating with Saudi stakeholders such as the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Site to explore sovereign cloud services. There have also been on-site visits by government and regulatory delegations to Microsoft’s data center region – reinforcing alignment on security, compliance, and responsible AI deployment in line with Saudi regulations.
Responding to this announcement, 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.”
When available, the Saudi Arabia cloud region will become part of Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure of more than 70 Azure regions across 33 countries, and aims to provide Saudi organizations with access to “secure, resilient cloud and AI services that meet both national requirements and global standards.”