Prime Highlight
- Alibaba Group has opened its second data centre in Dubai, underscoring its commitment to expanding its global cloud computing network and focus on the Middle East’s digital economy.
- Alibaba Cloud announced partnerships with regional firms like Wio Bank at GITEX Global 2025, aiming to boost AI-powered tools across various industries in the Middle East.
Key Facts
- Alibaba plans to invest 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) over the next three years to enhance its cloud and AI capabilities worldwide.
- The UAE is heavily investing in artificial intelligence, including plans to build the largest AI campus outside the US, collaborating with tech giants such as Nvidia and OpenAI.
Background
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group has opened its second data centre in Dubai, marking a major step in expanding its global cloud computing network. The launch comes nine years after Alibaba Cloud set up its first data centre in the UAE, reflecting the company’s growing focus on the Middle East’s fast-rising digital economy.
Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and artificial intelligence arm of the company, said the new facility is part of Alibaba’s plan to invest 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) over the next three years to strengthen its cloud and AI capabilities worldwide. Financial details of the Dubai expansion were not disclosed.
Eric Wan, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud International and Regional General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said the Middle East’s strong adoption of AI and its collaborative environment make it a key market for innovation and growth.
The UAE, one of the world’s leading oil exporters, has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence. In May, it announced plans to build the largest AI campus outside the United States, in partnership with global technology firms like Nvidia and OpenAI.
At the GITEX Global 2025 exhibition in Dubai, Alibaba Cloud announced new partnerships with regional companies, including Wio Bank, a digital bank supported by Abu Dhabi. The goal is to use Alibaba’s local cloud services to grow AI-powered tools in different industries.
This move shows Alibaba Cloud’s commitment to helping businesses in the Middle East with reliable, secure, and flexible technology as the region continues to grow digitally.
