News

Dubai’s Sheikh Hamdan Launches New Digital Cloud Project

Digital Dubai, Moro Hub, and Microsoft have signed agreements to carry out the digital transformation project.

Published

3 years ago

July 11, 2023

Nour Nasir

dubai's sheikh hamdan launches new digital cloud project

Dubai Media Office

On Monday, July 10th, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the launch of a new cloud technology project to boost the Emirate’s tech infrastructure and accelerate digital transformation.

Today, we launched the Dubai Digital Cloud project, the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at reinforcing Dubai’s status as a digital economy capital and further strengthening its digital infrastructure. I also attended the signing of partnership agreements between Digital… pic.twitter.com/y0lQ940tbS

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) July 10, 2023

Known as Dubai Digital Cloud, the project is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at establishing a “world-leading, efficient, agile and reliable digital infrastructure” in the Emirate, according to a press release from the government’s Media Office.

Last month, the Crown Prince also launched Dubai’s Digital Strategy, which aims to usher in a new era of digital transformation. The move comes after last year’s announcement of a Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation, showing a continued commitment by Dubai’s government towards creating a tech-centric, future-facing economy.

digital dubai cloud project

As for the Dubai Digital Cloud, the project will combine various digital entities to provide high levels of operational efficiency while offering the best solutions from private to public clouds, the Dubai Media office statement explained.

“The Dubai Digital Cloud is a practical application of our leadership’s vision to promote connectivity, integration, and a comprehensive digital government that ensures agility, speed, security, and competitiveness, allowing government entities to provide integrated, proactive, round-the-clock services”, said Hamad Al Mansoori, director general of Digital Dubai.

Also Read: Best Web Hosting Providers In The Middle East

The adoption of cloud-based technology in the UAE and other Gulf countries is growing due to the rise of a young, technology-focused population and a dramatic increase in tech businesses relocating to the region.

Microsoft expects its cloud services to add around $40 billion and up to 100,000 jobs to the UAE’s economy before 2030, with around 17% of those figures coming from cloud data centers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

News

Saudi Digital Payments Reach 80% As Cash Use Shrinks

Visa data shows cards and mobile wallets dominate spending, with smartphones now driving a growing share of daily transactions.

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2026

Nour Nasir

saudi digital payments reach 80% as cash use shrinks

Digital payments now account for 80% of all transactions in Saudi Arabia, according to Visa’s latest Where Cash Hides report, another marker of how quickly the Kingdom is moving away from cash.

The share is up four percentage points from a year ago. Around 67% of consumers are now largely non-cash users, paying mainly with cards or mobile wallets. Smartphones are taking a bigger role, with mobile payments making up 16% of transactions.

visa where cash hides saudi arabia 2026

Cash is retreating in routine spending. Eating out dropped 9%. Bill payments fell 8%, as shoppers opt for faster checkouts and app-based payments.

“The data shows a steady move toward digital payments in Saudi Arabia. Such progress is possible only because banks, fintechs, merchants, and technology partners are moving together in the same direction, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” said Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.

Also Read: UAE Users Sleep Less, But More Efficiently, ŌURA Data Reveals

Despite the recent findings, it’s important to note that cash hasn’t yet disappeared. It still shows up for tips (39%), peer-to-peer transfers (28%) and rent (14%).

Visa points to security features such as tokenization, along with rewards and cashback, as factors nudging more spending onto cards and phones — a shift that tracks with Saudi Arabia’s wider Vision 2030 push to digitize commerce.