MEEZA and Microsoft launch sovereign private cloud for Qatar

Meeza (Public Limited Liability Company) and Microsoft Corporation announced today the launch of the Microsoft Sovereign Private Cloud project for enterprises in Qatar, relying on Azure Local as the foundation of the infrastructure.

Meeza said the integrated cloud infrastructure will be delivered through MEEZA's on-premises data center environment, supported by the company's connectivity and communications services and integrated managed services capabilities, enabling customers to run selected, regulated workloads on a compliant cloud infrastructure deployed and run within Qatar.

Under the service model, Microsoft will provide the Azure Local technology that underpins the technology environment, while it will provide the benefit of data center infrastructure within Qatar, hardware, connectivity services, deployment and operation, and managed services.

This integration will provide customers with an on-premises environment, an Azure-compliant operating model, and a single on-premises service provider that supports the entire solution lifecycle.

The solution will also support a hybrid cloud approach, enabling organizations to distribute workloads within the environment that is most aligned with their operational, security, and regulatory requirements. Customers will be able to run some workloads in MEEZA's hosted Azure Local environments, with the ability to connect to Microsoft Azure public cloud services when needed, providing a strong foundation for future modernization as technical and business requirements evolve.

Meeza's high-capacity communications services are planned to enable customers' private cloud environments to the Microsoft Azure platform, providing infrastructure that supports hybrid cloud, business continuity, and disaster recovery scenarios, including the ability to replicate and restore eligible workloads between Microsoft Azure and MEEZA's hosted Azure Local environments, depending on the services and architecture adopted by each customer.

For government entities, it is planned that Maeza, through its connection to the government network, will provide a dedicated path to access eligible workloads hosted on Azure Local within its data centers, without relying on the public internet. Combined with MEEZA's local operations and managed services, this will provide a flexible and reliable foundation for governmental, sensitive, and critical workloads.

Mr. Mohammed Ali Al Ghaithani, CEO of Meeza, said: "This project is an important step in Meeza's commitment to supporting Qatar's digital transformation and meeting the growing demand for secure and sovereign cloud services. By combining Microsoft Azure technologies, on-premises infrastructure, and integrated services provided by Meeza, including data centers, telecommunications, and managed services, we will be able to deliver an integrated cloud environment that is operated and managed locally within Qatar.

"Our main strengths are our ability to bring together the various elements of the tech ecosystem into one trusted partner. From infrastructure and communications, to cloud technologies, on-premises data hosting, cybersecurity, to managed services, Maeza is able to provide full support to customers across the various stages of building, managing and developing their cloud environments."

Ahmed Al-Dandashi, General Manager of Microsoft Qatar, said: "As Qatar's digital transformation and AI ambitions accelerate, organizations need greater choices in how they deploy and operate critical workloads. Microsoft's sovereign private cloud, powered by Azure Local architecture, provides Azure capabilities within managed on-premises environments, giving customers greater control over their infrastructure hosting sites, workloads, and data.

"Through our collaboration with Meeza, we are working to provide a local choice for organizations in Qatar that seek to balance innovation in cloud computing and artificial intelligence with the requirements of digital sovereignty, resiliency, security, and operational control. This solution will provide a trusted foundation for government entities, regulated sectors, and critical workloads, while supporting the broader hybrid cloud strategy of each organization."

About Qatar Living:

Since 2005, Qatar Living has been the trusted destination for everything Qatar. As the country's largest online community and marketplace, Qatar Living connects people with opportunities through jobs, property, vehicles, services, classifieds, events, local insights, and breaking news. Trusted by residents, newcomers, visitors, and businesses alike, Qatar Living brings Qatar together in one place.

Instagram - @qatarliving

X - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living

YouTube - qatarlivingofficial