US-based video communications platform Zoom has launched a new data center in Saudi Arabia, its second in the country. The facility is hosted at Riyadh’s center3, a carrier-neutral data center and subsea cable operator, and builds on a $75 million investment commitment Zoom made to the Kingdom last year.
Quick Facts
- Second data center launched in Saudi Arabia.
- Part of a $75 million investment commitment.
- Focus on local data residency and AI tools.
Strengthening Data Residency for Saudi’s Public Sector
The new facility significantly expands Zoom’s capacity to serve government entities, enterprises, and critical national infrastructure organizations that require local data residency. This move addresses a key compliance and security requirement for many of the Kingdom’s most sensitive sectors.
The launch, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), was attended by His Excellency Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, Governor of the Digital Government Authority, and representatives from Saudi Aramco, signalling the importance of the expansion for the nation’s public and private sectors. Zoom established its first data center in the Kingdom in 2023 to begin serving customers with local data storage needs.
Aligning with the Kingdom’s National AI Strategy
This infrastructure growth comes as Saudi Arabia designates 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence. The national initiative aims to accelerate the application of advanced technologies across government and industry.
Zoom is positioning its latest AI-powered products to support this vision. The company recently launched ZoomMate, an AI assistant designed to help with meeting tasks and workflows, alongside an AI Productivity Suite that can generate presentations and reports from meeting discussions. These tools are directly relevant to the efficiency and innovation goals of Saudi’s enterprise and government clients.
Strategic Partnership with center3 for Global Connectivity
The choice of center3 as a host is a strategic one. As a carrier-neutral operator connected to major subsea cable systems, center3 provides high-speed connectivity between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
This gives multinational organizations and government bodies operating from a Saudi base a distinct advantage, ensuring reliable and fast communication across multiple regions while keeping their data within the Kingdom.
About Zoom
Zoom is a US-based communications company that provides video telephony and online chat services through a cloud-based peer-to-peer software platform. It is used for teleconferencing, telecommuting, distance education, and social relations.
Source: middleeastainews
