Microsoft has announced a landmark investment of $15.2 billion in the UAE between 2023 and 2029 to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure, support local operating expenses and bolster the nation’s ambition of becoming a global AI hub.Tech-giant Microsoft commits $15.2 billion to accelerate AI and cloud infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates by 2029.

The breakdown shows that from 2023 through the end of this year, over $7.3 billion has already been spent, including a $1.5 billion equity stake in UAE-based AI company G42, more than $4.6 billion in capital expenditures for advanced data centres and over $1.2 billion in local operating costs.

From 2026 to 2029, Microsoft expects to invest another $7.9 billion, with more than $5.5 billion earmarked for infrastructure and approximately $2.4 billion for operating expenses. 

The investment further strengthens the US-UAE technological partnership. Microsoft emphasises that “this is not money raised in the UAE. It’s money we’re spending in the UAE.” 

This initiative underscores the UAE’s strategic push into AI and cloud computing, positioning itself as a regional and global technology leader while supporting local talent development, regulatory compliance and sovereign data processing.