Microsoft Arabia and the National IT Academy (NITA) announced the launch of the first Microsoft Datacentre Academy (DCA) in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, on the sidelines of LEAP 2025
The Microsoft DCA is a two-year program designed to empower students by focusing on applied datacenter skills, enhancing their employability and contributing to the Kingdom's economic diversification.
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Empowering Saudi talent
The initiative aims to develop Saudi Arabia’s national workforce, creating a strong talent pool to lead the region’s datacenter industry and enhance digital infrastructure.Â
By equipping professionals with the expertise to drive the Kingdom’s digital transformation, the Academy supports Saudi Vision 2030 and the government’s objective of establishing the Kingdom as a global hub for datacentres and innovation.
Nora Al-Shaikh, Executive Director of NITA, stated, "This partnership with Microsoft is a milestone in our journey to establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub for datacenters.Â
The Microsoft Datacenter Academy will empower professionals with the expertise needed to drive the Kingdom’s digital transformation and realise the ambitions of Vision 2030".
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Driving digital transformation
The launch follows Microsoft's updates on its datacenter region in Saudi Arabia. Construction has been completed on three Azure Availability Zones, which are expected to be available in 2026.Â
Microsoft’s datacenter region in Saudi Arabia is expected to transform the Kingdom’s cloud market, projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.4 per cent to reach $3.9 billion in 2027. The program focuses on IT support, cloud technologies, and datacenter operations, providing participants with recognised certifications and expertise for high-demand technical roles.
Zainab Alamin, Vice President of National Digital Transformation at Microsoft Arabia, emphasised the Academy’s role in advancing the Kingdom’s digital sector. "This academy will equip professionals with the highly specialised technical skills needed to thrive in the era of AI.Â
Through this initiative, we are fostering local talent, creating new economic opportunities, and preparing the Kingdom’s workforce to lead in the next generation of digital transformation".Â
The curriculum covers infrastructure management, IT support, troubleshooting, and mechanical services and includes hands-on training in AI, data analytics, automation, and cybersecurity.
