Microsoft has unveiled plans to invest more than $10bn in capital and operating expenditure across the Middle East by 2030 under a new digital resilience framework.

The framework, announced at a round table held alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US, initially applies to Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

According to the US technology giant, the commitment centres on technology, digital resilience and workforce development.

Under the initiative, Microsoft will scale up its cloud and AI infrastructure in the region while strengthening ties with governments and national AI bodies, including Saudi’s HUMAIN, the UAE’s G42, Qatar’s QAI and Government of Kuwait.

Microsoft president and vice chairman Brad Smith said: “Microsoft’s economic ties to the Middle East run deep, and our commitment to the region has always been, and will remain, steadfast. As AI reshapes economies around the world, the Middle East has an important opportunity to lead.

“This new framework reflects that responsibility and our determination to help the region translate AI ambition into enduring economic and societal benefit.”

The company will also back digital-government efforts such as the UAE's TAMM platform, Saudi Arabia's SDAIA-led ALLaM programme, Qatar's TASMU initiative, and the rollout of Microsoft 365 Copilot across Kuwaiti government operations.

A further $400m-plus will go towards subsea and terrestrial connectivity by 2030, building on existing infrastructure such as the SeaMeWe-6 subsea cable, which lands in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Microsoft is also launching a Middle East Digital Resilience initiative, encompassing resilience assessments, reference architectures, readiness guidance, continuity planning and enablement schemes.

Data-protection, sovereignty and business-continuity commitments will be extended for qualifying governments and customers across the four nations, underpinned by its Sovereign Public Cloud, Sovereign Private Cloud and Project Digital Shield offerings.

Collaboration with the Responsible AI Future Foundation, established alongside G42 and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, will also expand to promote responsible AI practices and evaluation methods regionally.

On skills development, Microsoft reaffirmed its target of training over 4.2 million people across the four countries by 2030, through initiatives including Saudi Arabia's AI Global Leadership Program, AI Skills 4 Women schemes in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and Saudi Arabia's Women's Datacenter Academy.