Welcome to the GDCA’s new Weekly News Blast. Every Thursday we’ll be bringing you a curated round-up of all the trending Middle Eastern data centre news from the week, including any news from our Sponsors. We’ll also be posting a Weekly News Blast on our LinkedIn, so stay tuned.
Have any Middle East data centres news you’d like to share? Email yours to pr@gulfdca.com with NEWS in the subject line.
Sponsor News
Vertiv Issues Updated Guidance for Data Centres During Extreme Heat
The data centre cooling experts at Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, have issued updated guidance for managing the extreme heat. Read more.
Datalec Precision Installations (DPI) Launches TIQC – The DPI Initiative Aimed at Ensuring Excellence
DPI, a provider of world-class data centre design, supply, build and managed services, announced the launch of its TIQC initiative, representing a unified focal point of testing, inspection, quality and commissioning. This complements the Datalec vision of delivering excellence for these key requirements across all projects and locations. Read more.
Industry News
Saudi Arabia
Huawei Cloud Launches Services in Saudi Arabia
Huawei Cloud has launched a cloud region in the Saudi capital of Riyadh to help promote digital-led economic growth in the country. The company also announced that Huawei Cloud will train 200,000 developers in Saudi Arabia in the next five years, will build joint solutions with 1,000 local partners and launch the Huawei Cloud Startup Program to help 2,000 startups grow. Read more.
stc Group acquires a 9.9% interest in Telefónica
stc Group announced that it has acquired a 9.9% interest in Telefónica S.A., one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world with significant presence in Spain, Germany, the UK, and Brazil, for a total consideration of SAR 8.5 billion (EUR 2.1 billion). Read more.
UAE
Microsoft and G42 to establish sovereign cloud in UAE
G42 and Microsoft have embarked on the next phase of their ongoing strategic collaboration and announced a multifaceted plan to expand the existing data centre infrastructure in the UAE as well as make sovereign cloud offerings and advanced AI capabilities available. Read more.
Extreme Networks launches new regional data centre (RDC) in UAE
Through AI and machine learning functionality, the RDC enables both government and enterprise customers to run their operations more efficiently while in accordance with local data laws. Read more.
AI chip and software developer Blaize to set up edge AI joint venture in Abu Dhabi
The joint venture with Mark AB Capital will provide edge AI systems and a data centre for smart city and airport applications, with a minimum of $50m of orders a year. Read more.
Heriot-Watt University launches Dubai Solar Test Site for companies in UK and beyond
Research Engineers at Heriot-Watt University in Dubai have launched a solar energy testing facility to help companies in the UK and other countries to develop and test new solar technologies. Read more.
Dubai government services digitisation rate hits 99.5%
Government services in Dubai have reached a digitisation rate of 99.5%, while its paperless government objective has been achieved 100%. Over 120 government smartphone applications have been developed in the process. Read more.
Dubai’s DIFC tightens data protection for AI networks
The latest Data Protection Rules announced by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) will provide further clarity on personal data breach obligations. Read more.
Middle East
US curbs AI chip exports from Nvidia and AMD to some Middle East countries
The US has expanded the restriction of exports of Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices AI chips beyond China to other regions including some countries in the Middle East. Read more.
Netskope expands its presence in Middle East with four NewEdge data centres across UAE and KSA
Netskope’s NewEdge infrastructure provides increases capacity and coverage to better serve in-region and multinational enterprise customers. Read more.