October 10, 2024

Google Cloud has introduced the opening of its Doha cloud area at an official launch event attended by ministers from the Qatari Cupboard and executives from main Qatari companies, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Communications and Data Know-how (MCIT) and Qatar Free Zone Authority (QFZ).

The brand new cloud area will meet rising demand for cloud providers in Qatar and the Center East area and assist Qatar’s National Vision 2030 that goals to remodel the nation right into a digital financial system by innovation and digital transformation.

In accordance with research commissioned by Google Cloud and performed by Access Partnership, the brand new Doha cloud area is anticipated to drive elevated financial exercise and is estimated to contribute a cumulative 18.9 billion USD in greater gross financial output to the financial system of Qatar between 2023 and 2030 and assist the creation of 25,000 jobs in 2030 alone. This new cloud area is the most recent vital funding made by Google Cloud in Qatar, following the current opening of a rustic workplace and digital middle of excellence (CoE) in Msheireb.

The collection of investments in infrastructure and sources demonstrates Google Cloud’s continued dedication to enjoying a pivotal position in advancing Qatar’s digital future and technological capabilities.

MCIT and the Qatari authorities have helped allow the expansion of cloud throughout the federal government by the adoption of cloud insurance policies, which facilitated Google Cloud’s market entry. His Excellency Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Data Know-how, mentioned: “The launch of the primary Google Cloud area in Qatar suits into our complete imaginative and prescient to attain the specified objectives of Qatar Nationwide Imaginative and prescient 2030, together with the institution of a robust digital infrastructure with internationally agreed requirements and insurance policies that may lead us all in direction of a extra environment friendly financial system primarily based on digitalization and know-how to facilitate high quality of life and supply handy options for numerous sectors.

“The brand new cloud area will contribute to giving impetus to financial and productiveness development, and can permit numerous authorities and personal firms and establishments inside Qatar the chance to attain vital effectivity good points by adopting versatile options in coping with digital know-how.”

H.E. Ahmad Al Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) mentioned: “The launch of the brand new Google Cloud area in Qatar marks a major milestone in our rising partnership with Google Cloud that began in 2020 with an settlement to determine Google Cloud’s area in Doha.

“We’re proud to offer world-class cloud providers from the free zones in Qatar, that is along with QFZ’s pivotal position in introducing disruptive applied sciences and superior digital infrastructure, creating alternatives for companies to reinforce their capabilities, foster innovation, and advance the know-how sector within the State. This can additional speed up Qatar’s digital transformation and the conclusion of Qatar Nationwide Imaginative and prescient 2030 that goals to construct a sustainable knowledge-based financial system.”

QFZ and Google Cloud’s strategic collaboration settlement to allow in-country Google Cloud presence was introduced in early 2020. QFZ’s continued assist of the launch of the Middle of Excellence has helped the expansion of the know-how ecosystem in Qatar.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Govt, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, mentioned: “Qatar Airways is worked up on the alternative provided by Google organising its Cloud area in Qatar. This offers us the power to innovate collectively with Google and leverage their wealthy Cloud service choices. We’re significantly eager to make use of AI/ML pushed knowledge insights utilizing Google Cloud as a platform for enhancing our world-acclaimed customer support while additionally enhancing our operational efficiencies. Areas like knowledge pushed predictive upkeep will now be a lot simpler with Google Cloud being in Qatar and our knowledge residing right here securely.”

His Excellency Mr. Nasser Ghanem Al-Khelaifi, Chairman of beIN Media Group, mentioned, “We’re delighted to enter this main new partnership with Google Cloud, which is able to assist beIN embrace newest applied sciences and improvements. As a proud Qatari media group, we’re all the time trying to innovate as a enterprise and discover methods to enhance the expertise of tens of millions of our subscribers worldwide. In partnership with Google Cloud, beIN will assist drive the continued digital transformation of the sports activities, leisure and media business, each in Qatar and globally.”

Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Govt Officer of Qatar Monetary Middle mentioned: “Our partnership with Google Cloud affirms our shared need to facilitate the expansion of native companies by offering alternatives and options that allow them to capitalize on the transformative advantages of know-how and digitalisation. Working with Google on this area builds up the assist we offer our shoppers, significantly these within the monetary providers sector, and takes us steps ahead in our mission to assist the transformation of Qatar right into a digital and fintech hub and the nation’s sustainable growth according to the nationwide growth plan.”

Ahmed AlFahad, Govt Director of Know-how & Community Operations, Al Jazeera Media Community acknowledged: “We’re delighted to be among the many group of firms leveraging Google Cloud’s new cloud area in Qatar. The brand new area will assist Al Jazeera positively affect and empower extra prospects and companions around the globe. Our collaboration with Google Cloud has helped us ship great worth added providers to information readers across the globe. We’re capable of seize and analyze how individuals have interaction with information in real-time and translate these insights into actions that assist us preserve the world higher knowledgeable. We consider that with the cloud area now in Qatar, we’re going to be strongly positioned to ship distinctive information protection and drive deeper engagement to all the data.”

Adaire Fox-Martin, president, Google Cloud Go-to-Market, mentioned: “We’re proud to be delivering on the commitment we made in 2020 to the Authorities of Qatar and the enterprise group to open a cloud area within the nation. The financial system of Qatar holds great development potential. The Doha cloud area can be a catalyst for financial growth and can create extra employment alternatives within the Qatari market as extra companies develop and broaden with the facility of cloud applied sciences. We’re additionally humbled by the presence of Qatari Cupboard Ministers and leaders from Qatari companies on the area launch occasion at present, which displays the endorsement of the brand new cloud areas’ potential.”

The brand new Doha area is a part of Google Cloud’s international community of 37 areas and 112 zones that convey cloud providers to over 200 nations and territories worldwide. The brand new area brings high-performance, low-latency providers and merchandise to prospects of all sizes, from public sector organizations, to giant enterprises, to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups in Qatar and the Center East. Organizations within the area will profit from key controls that permit them to take care of the best safety, knowledge residency, and compliance requirements, together with particular knowledge storage necessities.

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  • Duncan MacRae

    Duncan is an award-winning editor with greater than 20 years expertise in journalism. Having launched his tech journalism profession as editor of Arabian Laptop Information in Dubai, he has since edited an array of tech and digital advertising and marketing publications, together with Laptop Enterprise Assessment, TechWeekEurope, Figaro Digital, Digit and Advertising and marketing Gazette.

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