19 Feb National IT Academy and Microsoft Launch the First Microsoft Datacenter Academy in the Middle East

Microsoft Arabia and the National IT Academy (NITA) announced the launch of the first Microsoft Datacenter Academy (DCA) in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia.

The Microsoft DCA is a two-year commitment to empower students with a focus on building applied data centre skills, thereby enhancing their employability in high-demand technical roles and contributing to the Kingdom’s economic diversification.

This initiative aims to develop Saudi Arabia’s national workforce, fostering a strong talent pool to lead the region’s data centre industry, enhance digital infrastructure, and boost innovation.

By equipping professionals with the expertise needed to drive the Kingdom’s digital transformation, the Academy supports Saudi Vision 2030 and the government’s objective to establish the Kingdom as a global hub for data centres and innovation.

The launch of the initiative also comes shortly after Microsoft shared updates on the development of its data centre region in the Kingdom; construction is complete on three Azure Availability Zones with availability anticipated in 2026. Microsoft’s data centre region in Saudi Arabia is expected to have a transformative impact on the Kingdom’s cloud market which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.4 per cent to reach USD$3.9 billion in 2027.

Nora Al-Shaikh, NITA’s Executive Director, said, “This partnership with Microsoft represents a significant milestone in our journey to establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub for data centres. The Microsoft Data Center Academy will empower professionals with the expertise needed to drive the Kingdom’s digital transformation and realize the ambitions of Vision 2030.”