Microsoft has announced that customers will be able to run cloud workloads from its new Saudi Arabia East Azure data centre region starting in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a significant step in supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 digital and AI ambitions.
Located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the new region will include three availability zones, each equipped with independent power, cooling, and networking infrastructure to ensure high levels of reliability, security, and resilience. The facility is designed to enable government entities and enterprises to operate cloud and AI workloads with low latency while maintaining local data residency requirements.
Once operational, the Saudi Arabia East region will become part of Microsoft’s global cloud network spanning more than 70 Azure regions across 33 countries. The investment is aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s digital ecosystem and supporting the country’s transition toward an AI-enabled economy.
Microsoft said its current focus is on helping organisations prepare for large-scale cloud adoption by modernising data infrastructure, improving governance frameworks, and developing digital skills to support the transition from pilot projects to production environments.
Saudi officials described the development as a milestone in building trusted AI infrastructure and enhancing national competitiveness, while Microsoft emphasised its long-term commitment to enabling secure, sovereign-ready cloud foundations that support economic growth, innovation, and digital transformation across public and private sectors.
