How Huawei Cloud is Expanding in Middle East Amid AI Push
Huawei Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Chinese technology company Huawei, has reported a tenfold increase in public cloud revenue in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the past year. The company made the announcement at its Huawei Cloud Summit UAE 2024, held during the GITEX Global 2024 technology exhibition in Dubai.
The summit, themed ‘Leap to Intelligence with a Better Cloud’, showcased Huawei Cloud's efforts to drive digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across various industries in the region. The company introduced new products and technical enhancements, including updates to its hybrid cloud offering, Huawei Cloud Stack.
Regional expansion in MENA
Huawei Cloud reported that it now provides services to over 900 local customers in the MENA region and has built an ecosystem with more than 300 local partners. Steven Yi, President of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, said: “Achieving a nation's digital strategy requires vision, partnerships, and long-term commitment. Huawei believes in action, focusing on AI, big data, and cloud to drive innovation and help the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa progress toward a smarter future.”
Joy Huang, Vice President of Huawei Cloud and President of Huawei Cloud Strategy Industry Development, outlined the company’s progress in the region: “Huawei Cloud has progressed rapidly over the past year. We couldn't have done it without your support.
“Our job is to keep innovating to better serve you, with better infrastructure, better technology and better experience,” he said. “We aim to become your trusted partner for your digital and intelligent journey.”
Hybrid cloud enhancements
Huawei Cloud also announced the release of Huawei Cloud Stack 8.5, the latest version of its hybrid cloud platform, for the Middle East and Central Asia markets. Hybrid cloud refers to a computing environment that combines public cloud services with on-premises infrastructure.
Hu Yuhai, Vice President of Huawei Hybrid Cloud, introduced new features in the platform, including a seamless cloud operating system upgrade process and enhanced security measures against ransomware attacks: a type of malicious software that encrypts a victim’s files and demands payment for their release.
“Huawei Cloud Stack provides a top-notch hybrid cloud for government and enterprise customers in the Middle East and Central Asia through more powerful cloud infrastructure, more diverse cloud services and more extensive industry solutions, he said. “Currently, Huawei Cloud Stack provides more than 120 on-premises cloud services and 50 industry scenario-specific solutions.”
AI and industry-specific solutions
The company also highlighted its efforts in AI, including the deployment of large AI models on hybrid cloud infrastructure. Huawei Cloud Stack now offers over 50 industry-specific solutions across six major sectors, including finance, government, and telecommunications. The company has established a dedicated business unit for mainframe modernisation, focusing on moving core services from legacy mainframe systems to cloud platforms.
Partnerships and education initiatives
As part of its regional strategy, Huawei Cloud also launched the Hybrid Cloud Pioneer Program for the Middle East and Central Asia, aimed at fostering industry innovation through partnerships with government and enterprise customers.
In collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, Huawei Cloud announced the launch of a national education cloud. The platform is designed to provide digital education services for over 450 higher education institutions and 4 million students in Pakistan.
Alan Qi, President of Huawei Cloud Middle East and Central Asia, emphasised the company’s customer-centric approach: Huawei Cloud Stack has always been focused on customer needs. By closely aligning with the actual needs of regional customers, we provide efficient and reliable hybrid cloud services, promoting the intelligent upgrade and innovative development of regional companies.”
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