AWS takes first steps into the Middle East

Amazon follows Microsoft's lead

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched its first Middle-Eastern region, opening its first datacentres in Bahrain.

The dominant public cloud player says that it has tens of thousands of customers and partners using its services in the Middle East.

AWS CEO Andy Jassy said: "The cloud has the chance to unlock digital transformation in the Middle East.

"We are launching advanced and secure technology infrastructure that matches the scale of our other AWS regions around the world and are already seeing strong demand in the Middle East for AWS technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, data analytics, IoT, and much more.

"We are excited to see how our cloud technology will provide new ways for governments to better engage with citizens, for enterprises to innovate for their next phase of growth, and for entrepreneurs to build businesses and compete on a global scale."

AWS says it now has 22 public cloud regions across the world, with 69 availability zones within these regions.

It also plans to bolster its presence across three existing regions, with new zones in Italy, South Africa and Indonesia.

AWS is following the lead of Microsoft, which announced its first Middle East regions last month, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.