"Google is partnering with oil giant Aramco to access Saudi Arabia\u2019s $10 billion cloud market"

" \n Google will open a \u201ccloud region\u201d where it can provide its cloud services in Saudi Arabia via a joint venture with state-owned oil producer Saudi Aramco, as Covid-19 prompts a landmark acceleration in digital adoption across the Gulf. \n \n\n \n \u201cThe collaboration taps into rapidly expanding cloud services demand in Saudi Arabia, which is forecast to reach a market opportunity up to $10 billion by 2030,\u201d Aramco said in a statement on Monday. \n \n\n \n Aramco said the agreement with Google will deliver \u201chigh performance, low-latency cloud services to enterprise customers in Saudi Arabia\u201d as warming relations in the region open the political space for U.S. technology companies to expand into the kingdom. \n \n\n \n Google began negotiations with Saudi Arabia on the project in 2018, but talks reportedly stalled following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by state agents in the same year. Google Cloud is now moving ahead with plans to establish and operate a new cloud region in the kingdom. No financial terms were disclosed. \n \n\n \n The technology agreement also shows Silicon Valley elites are comfortable doing public business with the regime, despite some concerns over Saudi Arabia\u2019s global role as an exporter of fossil fuels and its poor human rights record. \n \n\n \n Google said its investment into Saudi Arabia will allow businesses to grow and scale their offerings in the kingdom. The deal also boosts its cloud computing business, which brings in more than $10 billion in annual revenue for its parent, Alphabet Inc. \n \n\n \n Regional e-commerce firm Noon and social media platform Snap were named as customers. \n \n\n \n \u201cIn order to deliver a positive user experience, it is important to put our infrastructure as close as possible to our customers,\u201d Karl D\u2019Adamo, senior director for infrastructure at Snap Inc., said in a statement. \n \n\n \n \u201cWith the new Google Cloud region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we will be able to securely deliver services to our nearby customers at higher speeds and with greater flexibility,\u201d Hisham Zarka, CTO and managing director at Noon said.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Google competes with Microsoft and Amazon in the growing cloud-computing market globally. Google currently operates in 24 regions with 73 availability zones, less than its primary competitors Microsoft Azure and market leader Amazon Web Services. \n \n\n \n Amazon Web Services launched its first cloud region in the Middle East in Bahrain last year, servicing top tier local clients such as Emirati bank Emirates NBD and rideshare service Careem. Microsoft launched its offering in the United Arab Emirates around the same time, making Google a later entrant to the regional scene. \n \n\n \n Technology pivot critical to diversification plan\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Saudi Arabia has been actively courting Silicon Valley, seeking foreign investment to bolster its ambitious Vision 2030 reform plans and diversify its oil-dependent economy. The kingdom already invests significantly in American technology firms via its Public Investment Fund. \n \n\n \n The new infrastructure will accelerate Saudi Arabia\u2019s tech industry, which has one of the fastest-growing cloud adoption rates in the region, according to Oxford Business Group, which expects the new centers will boost usage further. \n \n\n \n Skyline of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images \n \n\n \n Saudi Arabia also marked a milestone last month following the crowning of the country\u2019s first tech unicorn. Saudi Arabia\u2019s STC Pay now plans to expand its financial services offering across the Gulf region, after achieving a billion-dollar \u201cunicorn\u201d valuation on the back of a deal with Western Union.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n \u201cThe future of Saudi Arabia\u2019s business transformation and growth depends on its ability to successfully leverage cloud services,\u201d Ahmad Al Sa\u2019adi, Aramco\u2019s senior vice president of technical services, said. It\u2019s thought the Google cloud solution would offer Saudi businesses increased access to artificial intelligence, smart analytics, data management, security and other Google services. \n \n\n \n Qatar, Israel links eyed\u00a0 \n \n\n \n The growing tech ties in the Kingdom come amid reports Google was preparing to establish a fiber optic network that will connect Europe and India through Israel and Saudi Arabia. The project has the potential to link Saudi Arabia and Israel for the first time, in another sign of warming relations despite the two countries having no formal diplomatic ties. \n \n\n \n The underwater cable project, called Blue Raman route, is said to be nearly 5,000 miles long and is expected to cost $400 million. \n \n\n \n Saudi government authorities have not publicly given approval for the project. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, said Google could seek support from telecom partners to finance the initiative and share infrastructure. \n \n\n \n Google has also announced plans to launch a cloud computing center in Qatar, which has been subject to a regional blockade led by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt since 2017. \n "

"Google is partnering with oil giant Aramco to access Saudi Arabia\u2019s $10 billion cloud market"

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