Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, expects its cloud services portfolio to add more than $39 billion and about 100,000 jobs to the UAE economy in the next four years, a study has shown.
About 17 per cent of that revenue will come from the US technology company's cloud data centre regions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, according to the report conducted by the International Data Corporation, which was released on Tuesday.
Microsoft's cloud business caters to the growing number of cloud-born companies or organisations in the UAE that have most or all of their assets on the cloud, said Naim Yazbeck, Microsoft's general manager for the UAE.
The company is also “continuing” discussions with local authorities on potential partnerships to use its cloud services in highly regulated sectors, he told The National at Gitex Technology Week in Dubai.
Microsoft and its partners will spend about $3.4bn to support local businesses in UAE data centre regions, it said.
“The pandemic created an exponential need for digitisation; everyone required things to be digital, touchless, etc, and technology had been playing a big role. Of course, the cloud enabled all of those,” said Mr Yazbeck.
“The cloud has been a critical factor in allowing many sectors — from education to payments and financial services to retail — to continue to operate.”
The Microsoft study follows the opening of the company's first cloud data centre region in Qatar, which is expected to add more than $18bn to the Gulf state's economy and generate more than 36,000 jobs.
The adoption of cloud technology in the UAE and the GCC is growing because of the rise of technology focused young consumers and an evolving digital landscape in the region.
The global cloud computing market was valued at $368.97bn in 2021 and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of about 16 per cent from 2022 to 2030, with emerging technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning among its primary drivers, according to Grand View Research.
Meanwhile, global spending on public cloud services is expected to rise by more than 20 per cent annually to $495bn this year — about $84bn more than what was spent in 2020 — and hit $600bn in 2023, according to research firm Gartner.
Aside from Microsoft, other global technology companies such as Amazon and Oracle have also set up data centres in the UAE to support the country's technological push.
The cloud has been a critical factor in allowing many sectors — from education to payments and financial services to retail — to continue to operate.
Naim Yazbeck,
general manager of Microsoft UAE
Microsoft, its partners and customers are expected to add more than 97,000 jobs to the UAE economy, either through direct employment or through the indirect generation of jobs in other organisations, the study said.
This will include an estimated 29,000 IT jobs, “highlighting the ongoing need for collaboration between public and private entities on skilling programmes to ensure that qualified professionals are on hand to assume these roles”, it said.
Microsoft's cloud customers and partners in the UAE include the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, the Ministry of Education, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq Bank, DP World, Dubai International Airport and Majid Al Futtaim Retail.
More than two thirds of the jobs created by Microsoft's cloud business in the UAE will directly deal with the technology itself, while the rest will be at the end-user level, which highlights the need to boost the skills of users, Mr Yazbeck said.
“The challenge is the availability of skills. We are focusing, with the government, on skilling the workforce. You need more skills at a high pace,” he said.
“In specific highly regulated industries, we are looking if there is a way to partner with them so they can leverage the advantages of the cloud.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
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England squad
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
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MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
