Global technology major Zoho Corporation has officially launched its first data centers in the UAE, establishing new facilities in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This move is a key part of the company’s previously announced Dhs100 million investment to expand its cloud infrastructure across the Gulf region.
The new data centers will host over 100 cloud-based solutions from Zoho’s portfolio, including its Zoho brand of business applications and its ManageEngine suite for enterprise IT management. This strategic expansion enables local businesses to store their data within the UAE, addressing critical data sovereignty requirements and enhancing performance.
Strengthening Data Sovereignty and Local Compliance
A primary driver for the launch is to empower UAE businesses to maintain data locally, a crucial factor for organizations in sensitive sectors and for government entities.
“The opening of our data centres is part of our ongoing investment in the UAE, which remains one of the largest markets in the region for both ManageEngine and Zoho brands,” said Shailesh Davey, Co-founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation. “With this move, Zoho Corporation will be enabling businesses to store their data locally, strengthening data sovereignty, and supporting the National Cybersecurity Agenda.”
Demonstrating their commitment to local standards, the centers have received the CSP Security Standard Certificate from the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC). This certification qualifies Zoho to serve government and semi-government entities. The facilities are also compliant with ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 27017, and hold a CSA STAR Level 2 Certificate.
Fueling Regional Growth and Expansion
Zoho has experienced significant growth in the UAE, reporting a 38.7% increase in revenue in the past year. During the same period, its local partner network grew by 29%, and its workforce expanded by 35% to meet rising demand.
The company’s upmarket segment has been a particular bright spot, growing by 48% as larger enterprises increasingly adopt its scalable, cloud-based solutions. Key products driving this adoption include the Customer Experience platform (Zoho CRM, Desk), Zoho Books accounting software, and the unified Zoho One business suite.
Over the last five years, Zoho has invested approximately Dhs80 million in local digital transformation initiatives, forming key partnerships with entities like Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai Culture to support over 7,000 businesses.
Enterprise IT Demand Surges for ManageEngine
ManageEngine, Zoho’s enterprise IT management brand, has also seen robust growth in the UAE, with a 20% increase in the last year. This growth was primarily driven by strong demand from the financial services, government, and manufacturing sectors.
The brand’s cloud adoption in the region is growing at nearly 35%, reflecting a broader market shift toward cloud-first IT strategies. Top-performing products include Endpoint Central for device management, the IT helpdesk solution ServiceDesk Plus, and the monitoring tool Site24x7.
About Zoho Corporation
Founded in 1996, Zoho Corporation is a privately held global technology company that employs more than 18,000 people. It is the parent company of several prominent technology brands, including Zoho for business applications, ManageEngine for enterprise IT management, TrainerCentral for online training platforms, and Qntrl for workflow orchestration.
Source: Gulf Business
