Amazon Web Services (AWS) announces its intention to launch a new region for data centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2026. This region will enable customers to store their data and run their applications within the Kingdom, fostering digital innovation and providing new opportunities for developers and businesses.
Benefits of the new region:
- Providing secure and reliable cloud services: AWS will deliver its services from data centers within the Kingdom, allowing customers to store their data securely and in compliance with local regulations.
- Reducing latency: The new region will improve application response times for end users in Saudi Arabia.
- Supporting digital transformation: The new region will assist businesses in the Kingdom in adopting cloud technologies and achieving digital transformation goals.
- Creating job opportunities: Amazon Web Services will contribute to creating new job opportunities in the Kingdom through its programs to train developers and help them acquire cloud computing skills.
Investments by Amazon Web Services:
Amazon Web Services plans to invest over $5.3 billion (approximately 19.88 billion SAR) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This investment will include the establishment of two new innovation centers, aimed at empowering local students and developers and providing opportunities to acquire cloud computing skills.
Comments from officials:
- His Excellency Engineer Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology: “Partnering with Amazon Web Services and their announcement of their new region, backed by a $5.3 billion investment, heralds the dawn of a new era of technological excellence and innovation in the Kingdom.”
- Prasad Kalyanaraman, Vice President of Amazon Web Services Global Services: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents a strategic market for us, and we are committed to supporting the growth of the digital economy in the Kingdom.”
Amazon Web Services offerings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
Amazon Web Services offers a wide range of cloud services, including:
- Analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computing
- Databases
- Internet of Things
- Machine Learning
- Mobile services
- Storage
- Other cloud technologies
Customers of all levels, from startups to large companies, public sector institutions, and non-profit organizations, can use these services to drive innovation and meet the demand for cloud services in the Kingdom and throughout the Middle East.
Amazon’s commitment to developing digital skills:
Amazon is committed to supporting digital transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by expanding its training programs, including:
- Saudi Women’s Skills Initiative from Amazon Web Services: This initiative aims to train 4,000 women for free on the basics of cloud computing practices.
- AWS Academy: This service helps students from all backgrounds and experiences prepare for careers related to cloud technologies.
- AWS Educate: This service provides educational and qualification programs for students from all backgrounds and experiences.
- AWS re/Start: This service helps individuals seeking employment in cloud computing.
- AWS Skill Builder: This digital learning center offers over 600 free courses using up to 14 different languages.
Innovation Centers:
Amazon Web Services will establish two new innovation centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These centers will focus on:
- Providing technical guidance and training on various Amazon Web Services technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to startups in the Middle East and North Africa.
- Funding research for graduate students.
- Offering free subscriptions to the AWS Skill Builder program.
Amazon Academy: Empowering the Next Generation of Saudi Talent
To further its commitment to developing digital skills in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Amazon Web Services and Amazon recently launched the Amazon Academy. This initiative aims to provide training and qualifications in cloud technology, logistics services, and retail, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The academy aims to train over 30,000 Saudi citizens, provide 35,000 scholarships, and offer 100 opportunities for practical training. It will provide transformative training and free educational opportunities to equip participants with the qualifications needed to enhance the required competencies.
The program will empower the next generation of Saudi youth, entrepreneurs, and professionals at various stages of their careers to succeed in various skills, such as cloud computing, logistics services, and leadership.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the Kingdom will collaborate with Amazon through the Future Skills initiative launched by the Ministry to encourage Saudi talent to enroll in the Skills Development Academy operated by the Saudi Digital Academy and the TUWAIQ Academy.
The Amazon Academy combines Amazon’s global technological and operational expertise with its understanding of the Saudi talent landscape to disseminate training on advanced skills. Certifications will include the Cloud Computing track from basic and advanced levels to specialized levels, covering cloud engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and other technology certifications to prepare learners and develop employees and provide support for corporate teams towards the digital future.
As part of its ongoing commitment to contributing to empowering women’s skills, Amazon launched the Women’s Delivery Workforce Recruitment Program to provide suitable opportunities to empower skills and enable women in the Kingdom to work in successful positions in logistics services supporting e-commerce activities.
Customers’ Praise for the Establishment of AWS Region in the Kingdom
In the Kingdom, institutions belong to millions of active customers utilizing Amazon Web Services technologies in more than 190 countries worldwide. Saudi companies choose this company to assist them in continuing innovation, enhancing cost efficiency, and accelerating time to market.
The establishment of the Amazon Web Services region in the Kingdom is a significant step towards achieving digital transformation goals in the country. This region will contribute to providing secure and reliable cloud services, creating new job opportunities, and supporting digital innovation in the Kingdom.
