Microsoft commits $15.2 billion to UAE for AI and cloud infrastructure

By the end of 2025 Microsoft will have already deployed more than $7.3 billion in the UAE. That spending breaks down into roughly $1.5 billion for the G42 equity investment, over $4.6 billion for capital expenditures on AI and cloud data centers, and $1.2 billion‑plus for operating expenses. The deployment relies on tens of thousands of Nvidia A100‑class GPUs, cleared for export by U.S. licenses, providing the compute power needed for cutting‑edge AI model training. Microsoft is also rolling out additional cloud regions across the Middle East, with an East Azure region in Saudi Arabia expected to open in November 2026, and aims to train one million individuals in digital skills by 2027.