The Middle East is in the midst of a digital transformation. In this era of innovation and economic diversification, governments are turning to cloud computing as a key catalyst for growth.
Cloud computing, which allows users to access powerful online services like data storage and computing power without the need for physical hardware, is revolutionizing the way businesses operate. According to a report by PwC and Strategy& Middle East, the benefits are clear: cloud-powered companies enjoy improved stakeholder trust, better decision-making, increased productivity, faster time to market, and significant cost savings.
Across the region, and particularly in Saudi Arabia, businesses are embracing Google Cloud, known for its sustainability leadership. To meet growing demand, the company opened a new cloud region in Dammam in November 2023. This new region provides high-performance, low-latency services to a wide range of clients, accelerating the country’s digital transformation.
In this exclusive interview, Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, managing director for Middle East, Türkiye and Africa at Google Cloud, shares insights into Google Cloud’s strategy in Saudi Arabia and the broader region. He also discusses the economic impact of their initiatives and paints a picture of the future of cloud technology in this dynamic part of the world.
What investments has Google Cloud made in its infrastructure in the Middle East?
At Google Cloud, we’ve made substantial investments in our infrastructure in the Middle East to meet the increasing demand for cloud services. We’ve launched a cloud region in Qatar and, more recently, in Saudi Arabia. This is expected to contribute significantly to the local economy and support the country’s digital transformation goals.
Our commitment goes beyond just infrastructure, though. We’re actively forming partnerships with various entities across the region to drive digital transformation. We’re collaborating with organizations to help them leverage the power of cloud technologies for their digital initiatives, where our flexible solutions allow businesses to run applications where they need them.
This collaborative approach extends to supporting regional government visions and goals by fostering a thriving digital entrepreneurship ecosystem and accelerating AI-based innovation.
Google announced a new cloud region in Saudi Arabia last year. What has been the immediate benefit to your company, your clients, and the Kingdom’s economy?
Google Cloud stands as one of the pioneering hyperscalers that launched a cloud region in the Kingdom. It’s a clear manifestation of our commitment to leading the region’s digital evolution.
It’s exciting to witness the transformative impact this is having. For customers, the benefits are clear-cut.
The Dammam Cloud Region offers unparalleled security, data residency, and compliance capabilities, ensuring businesses can operate with confidence and adhere to local regulations — including specific data storage requirements. The high-performance, low-latency Google Cloud Platform services we provide are empowering organizations of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises, to accelerate their digital transformation journeys.
We’re proud to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s broader economic development. By investing in the Kingdom, we’re creating jobs, fostering a thriving technology ecosystem, and supporting the realization of Vision 2030. Our goal is to empower organizations to leverage the power of data, embrace generative AI solutions, and cultivate a culture of innovation. As we continue to expand our offerings and deepen our partnerships, we’re committed to catalyzing the Kingdom’s digital journey.
Are any more cloud regions likely to come up within the GCC or the wider Arab market?
Google Cloud’s strategic investments in the region — combined with the economic transformation reforms being pursued by governments — have created a favorable environment for growth. According to a PwC survey, 68 percent of Middle Eastern companies plan to migrate most of their operations to the cloud within the next two years. This indicates a significant and accelerating trend toward cloud adoption in the region.
To meet the growing demand for cloud services in the Middle East, we’ve announced our plans to bring a new Google Cloud region to Kuwait to support our growing customer base. This strategic expansion will further strengthen our presence in the region and make it easier for organizations to serve their own users faster, more reliably, and securely.
With 40 regions and 121 zones currently in operation around the world, Google Cloud’s network of cloud regions is the foundation of the infrastructure it is building to support customers of all sizes and across industries. These include retail, media & entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and the public sector.
The Saudi Arabia cloud region is expected to generate around 150,000 jobs by 2030. How successful have you been in absorbing local talent so far?
Our commitment to nurturing local talent has been a cornerstone of our strategy in Saudi Arabia. Since launching the cloud region, we’ve made significant strides in building a skilled and diverse workforce.
The economic impact of our investment is undeniable. Research commissioned by Google Cloud and conducted by Access Partnership, a prominent global tech policy advisory firm, highlights the substantial contribution of the cloud region to the Saudi economy, both in terms of gross economic output to the Saudi economy. It is estimated to add a cumulative $109 billion to the economy between 2024 and 2030 and aid in job creation. The Dammam cloud region can also support the growth ambitions of 1.2 million SMEs. The increased economic activity from in-country cloud adoption has direct, indirect, and spillover economic effects, which would support the creation of jobs.
To ensure a sustainable pipeline of talent, we’ve invested heavily in training and development programs. Our cloud-centric training initiatives focus on emerging technologies like AI and machine learning, infrastructure and application modernization, data analytics and digital marketing. This is in alignment with the Human Capability Development Program under the Saudi National Vision 2030, as we upskill Saudi-based professionals to thrive in the digital age.
We’re proud of our progress, but our work is far from over. As the cloud region continues to grow, we’ll remain dedicated to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.
Taking a broader view, how is Google Cloud addressing the talent gap when it comes to cloud in the region?
The need for skilled talent is paramount for driving innovation, building competitive businesses, and ensuring the long-term success of the Middle East’s tech ecosystem. As the region accelerates its digital transformation, there is a surging demand for professionals with expertise in cloud computing, data science, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.
Google Cloud is actively addressing this talent gap by investing in education and training initiatives. For instance, we have been instrumental in creating a digitally empowered workforce through the Google Cloud Centers of Excellence (CoE) in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. These centers play a crucial role in bridging the talent gap, providing training and certifications to local professionals, and fostering a thriving cloud ecosystem.
Since 2022, in Saudi Arabia alone, Google Cloud experts have trained over 19,000 learners on the latest cloud technologies through various training programs such as Qwiklabs, Cloud Skills Boost, instructor-led training, on-demand courses, and workshops delivered through the CoEs. Additionally, we also collaborate closely with educational institutions to develop cloud-focused curricula and establish academic centers of excellence. By fostering a skilled workforce, we aim to support the region’s digital transformation and drive innovation.
How is Google Cloud leveraging AI to provide innovative solutions to its customers?
We are witnessing one of the most significant technological shifts in history. AI is creating entirely new ways for organizations to solve problems, engage customers, and work more efficiently. Customers seek to maximize their investment, build faster, work more sustainably, maintain digital sovereignty, and overcome their unique business challenges with AI-powered, industry-focused solutions and services.
At Google Cloud, we have aligned our technology portfolio directly to address all these needs. We have a long and successful history of bringing AI innovations to enterprise customers, extending our core AI advancements and embedding them into every aspect of cloud computing. We aim to bring together innovations that help businesses build a new path forward with purpose-built, AI-infused solutions for data, infrastructure, productivity, and security.
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What does the future hold for Google Cloud in the Middle East?
As businesses across the Middle East seek to leverage AI to improve their operations, reduce costs, and gain a competitive advantage, Google Cloud is poised to become a leading provider of AI and generative AI solutions in the region. Working closely with our strong and thriving partner ecosystem, we aim to support the digital empowerment of every business and individual in the region.
Our new cloud regions across the Middle East market enable both public and private sector organizations to maximize their data and foster a culture of innovation underpinned by a modern, sustainable infrastructure with built-in security. The company’s recent announcements, such as the launch of the new generative AI platform Gemini Advanced and the expansion of its AI partnerships in the region, position us well to capitalize on this market opportunity and accelerate growth.
Google Cloud is optimistic about its future in the Middle East. As a trusted technology partner for our customers, we are actively committed to supporting their success in the region’s rapidly evolving business and market landscape.
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