Oracle is set to expand its Dubai operations, as part of a broader strategy to build more cloud infrastructure in the Middle East, aligning with the region’s digital transformation.
The company’s Dubai office will undergo a “significant” renovation, providing customers with the opportunity to “literally visualise the future of their companies with the latest AI [artificial intelligence] and cloud tech,” stated Nick Redshaw, Oracle’s senior vice president for tech cloud and UAE country leader.
Oracle VP: Emirates Emerges as Global Tech Hub Through Cloud Transformation
Oracle plans to invest in creating a “state-of-the-art customer experience centre” at its Dubai location, including futuristic employee workspaces, as revealed by Redshaw.
Clay Magouyrk, executive vice president for Oracle cloud infrastructure, highlighted the transformation of the Emirates into “a global economic and technology powerhouse,” with the cloud enabling remarkable business transformations across various sectors.
Oracle, celebrating 35 years of operations in the UAE in 2024, currently has three live cloud regions in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Jeddah), with additional regions planned in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia’s Neom.
Magouyrk emphasized the ability to rapidly add and operate cloud regions in the Middle East, maintaining architectural consistency and high automation to meet increasing demand.
While no specific timeline was provided for the new cloud regions, the adoption of cloud services in the Middle East continues to rise, driven by tech-savvy consumers and government efforts for economic development.
Oracle’s Strategic Moves in the Middle East: Navigating the Dynamic Cloud Landscape
Global cloud providers like Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, and Alibaba Cloud have also established a presence in the region, reflecting its potential, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Oracle, not disclosing market share figures, competes in a dynamic landscape where Amazon Web Services leads with a 32% market share, followed by Microsoft Azure (22%) and Google Cloud (11%).
The public cloud services market globally saw over a 19% annual revenue increase to about $315.5 billion in the first half of 2023.
Magouyrk highlighted the growing demand for cloud in the public sector and stressed the importance of tailoring cloud solutions to diverse needs, according to The National News.
He identified two critical segments – security and generative AI – addressing the need to simplify cloud and IT security, and leveraging generative AI to unlock insights from corporate data.
Oracle has partnered with the Dubai Business Women Council for the sAIdaty initiative, focusing on enhancing AI skills among women professionals and entrepreneurs in the UAE. The year-long programme aims to equip 500 council members with AI skills to support their businesses and contribute to the country’s digital economy goals.
