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Amazon Web Services Launches In The United Arab Emirates

Amazon has expanded its reach into the UAE with the Middle Eastern branch of its AWS offering.

Published

4 years ago

September 1, 2022

amazon web services launches in the united arab emirates

Amazon Web Services promotes itself as the “world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform”. Now, the service is set to enter the Middle Eastern region, using local data centers and creating approximately 6,000 jobs in the process. The operation will require an entire construction and infrastructure supply chain, from maintenance and engineering to telecoms and more, bringing a planned $5 billion investment to the region’s economy.

“AWS is committed to helping customers in the UAE deploy the most advanced cloud technologies and achieve the highest levels of security, availability, and resiliency […] we are making it possible for even more customers to harness the power of the cloud to drive innovation across the UAE, while also investing in the local economy through job creation, training for highly sought-after technology skills, and education resources to further advance the UAE’s strategic priorities,” says Prasad Kalyanaraman, vice president of Infrastructure Services at AWS.

With the Middle Eastern arm of its operation in full swing, Amazon Web Services will be available in 87 zones worldwide, covering 27 geographic regions. The AWS UAE region will comprise three separate zones, joining with Bahrain (launched in 2019). It will enable residents to store data securely while achieving lower latency across the country.

When it comes to uptake within the wider economy, the service is already thriving, with tens of thousands of customers already using AWS across the Middle East and North Africa, including heavyweights such as Al Ghurair Investment, the Dubai Islamic Bank, Alef and GEMS Education, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, and more.

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“The opening of the AWS Middle East (UAE) Region is a significant milestone for Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole, reflecting our efforts to generate opportunities for all […] It strengthens Abu Dhabi’s commitment to positioning itself as a leading digital economy by leveraging cutting-edge technology to support business growth,” says His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

As smart infrastructure and transformative technology continue to shape Abu Dhabi’s future, the public and private sectors continue to thrive, so there’s little doubt that more prestigious companies will follow in Amazon’s footsteps and expand into the region.

Related Topics:Amazon United Arab Emirates

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Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

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The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.