Microsoft plans over $10B Middle East investment by 2030

Microsoft plans to invest more than $10 billion in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait by 2030. The funds will focus on cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure as part of an aggressive spending strategy in the region, Vice Chair and President Brad Smith told Reuters on September 23, 2026.

The company is also allocating more than $400 million toward subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East through 2030. Microsoft cited digital resilience as a central pillar of its regional strategy amid ongoing conflict with Iran that began on February 28. Smith noted that Microsoft is maintaining and expanding all pre-conflict spending plans, though it did not disclose country-specific breakdowns due to security considerations.

In addition to infrastructure, Microsoft continues to collaborate with local artificial intelligence firms. These include Abu Dhabi-based G42, in which Microsoft invested $1.5 billion in 2024 for a minority stake and a board seat held by Smith. The company is also working with Saudi Arabia's Humain and Qatar's Qai on priority initiatives without taking equity stakes.