# Middle East Data Center Storage Market

> Middle East data center storage: USD 985.83 million in 2026, USD 2.87 billion by 2035, 13.99% CAGR from 2025, as Saudi rules keep data in-country.

Publisher: DC Market Insights  
Author: Amit Jain, DC Market Insights  
Published: 2026-03-09  
Last updated: 2026-11-03  
Next review: May 2027  
Page: https://www.dcmarketinsights.com/report/middle-east-data-center-storage-market

## Key takeaways

- Saudi residency rules keep storage and backup copies inside the Kingdom
- AI data lakes push Huawei and VAST Data flash platforms into Gulf halls
- Tight NAND supply raises array prices in 2026 and 2027
- HUMAIN AI factories in Saudi Arabia

**Frequently Asked Questions**

**What is the size of the Middle East Data Center Storage Market in 2026?**

USD 985.83 million in 2026, up 27.25% from USD 774.74 million in 2025, according to DC Market Insights estimates. The market is projected to reach USD 2.87 billion by 2035, a CAGR of 13.99% from 2025.

**How fast is the Middle East Data Center Storage Market growing?**

13.99% a year from 2025 to 2035, after 14.96% a year from 2020 to 2025, because installed IT capacity in the region grows from about 1,953 MW to 8,820 MW and 70% of new capacity is built for AI by 2035.

**How much do Middle East data centers spend on storage per megawatt?**

About USD 0.36 million per installed megawatt a year in 2025, plus about USD 1.10 million one-off per megawatt of new AI capacity (DC Market Insights estimate). The installed-base rate stays flat in 2026 because NAND flash prices rose about 30% in a quarter.

**Which storage type leads Middle East data center storage?**

All-flash arrays, with USD 356.38 million or 46% of 2025 value, rising to 64% by 2035. Object storage is the fastest architecture at 21.20% a year as AI data lakes and backup copies grow.

**Which country leads the Middle East data center storage market?**

The United Arab Emirates, with USD 216.93 million in 2025. Saudi Arabia grows faster at 17.09% a year and reaches USD 975.62 million by 2035, ahead of the UAE, as AWS and Microsoft open in-Kingdom regions.

**Does Saudi Arabia require data to be stored inside the Kingdom?**

Yes for cloud providers: the NCA Cloud Cybersecurity Controls require storage, processing and disaster-recovery systems inside Saudi Arabia. DC Market Insights estimates that government and financial buyers held USD 340.88 million of 2025 regional storage spend.

**How much storage do Gulf AI campuses need?**

About USD 1.24 billion for the 1,150 MW of disclosed AI capacity in Stargate UAE, the Microsoft and G42 expansion and HUMAIN's programmes, at USD 1.08 million of storage per AI megawatt in 2026 (DC Market Insights estimate).

**Who are the leading Middle East data center storage vendors?**

Dell Technologies, Huawei Technologies and NetApp hold about 45% of external array spend together (DC Market Insights estimate). HPE, Everpure (formerly Pure Storage), IBM, Hitachi Vantara, Lenovo, Nutanix, VAST Data and Commvault also compete.

**Which end user grows fastest in Middle East data center storage?**

Hyperscale and Sovereign Cloud Providers, at 17.99% a year from USD 263.41 million in 2025 to USD 1.38 billion in 2035, as regulated data moves into in-country cloud regions.

**Why do Middle East Data Center Storage Market estimates differ?**

The 2026 figure of USD 985.83 million counts only storage systems, software and support in Middle East data center halls. Wider estimates add enterprise storage outside data centers, cloud storage subscriptions, loose drives and Egypt; the earlier DC Market Insights edition was about 2.4 times larger on that basis.

**How much of Middle East data center storage spend in 2025 came from AI cluster storage?**

USD 123.51 million in 2025, from 112 MW of new AI capacity at USD 1.10 million per MW. The rest, USD 651.23 million, was installed-base storage refresh and expansion, from 1,806 MW of average installed IT capacity at USD 0.36 million per MW-year.

**What does the Middle East data center storage market include and exclude?**

It counts USD 774.74 million of 2025 purchases: arrays, file and object systems, tape libraries, storage software and support in data center halls across twelve countries. It excludes servers, GPUs, loose SSDs, memory chips, public cloud storage subscriptions and Africa, including Egypt.

**How much did Saudi Arabia spend on data center storage in 2025 and how fast is it growing?**

USD 201.43 million in 2025, rising to USD 975.62 million by 2035 at a CAGR of 17.09%. Saudi Arabia ranks second behind the UAE in 2025, and its growth is the fastest of any region in the Middle East.

## Dataset

| Series | Value | Unit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Market size 2025 | 774.74 | USD million |
| Revenue CAGR | 13.99 | % |
| Market size 2035 | 2,870 | USD million |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the size of the Middle East Data Center Storage Market in 2026?

USD 985.83 million in 2026, up 27.25% from USD 774.74 million in 2025, according to DC Market Insights estimates. The market is projected to reach USD 2.87 billion by 2035, a CAGR of 13.99% from 2025.

### How fast is the Middle East Data Center Storage Market growing?

13.99% a year from 2025 to 2035, after 14.96% a year from 2020 to 2025, because installed IT capacity in the region grows from about 1,953 MW to 8,820 MW and 70% of new capacity is built for AI by 2035.

### How much do Middle East data centers spend on storage per megawatt?

About USD 0.36 million per installed megawatt a year in 2025, plus about USD 1.10 million one-off per megawatt of new AI capacity (DC Market Insights estimate). The installed-base rate stays flat in 2026 because NAND flash prices rose about 30% in a quarter.

### Which storage type leads Middle East data center storage?

All-flash arrays, with USD 356.38 million or 46% of 2025 value, rising to 64% by 2035. Object storage is the fastest architecture at 21.20% a year as AI data lakes and backup copies grow.

### Which country leads the Middle East data center storage market?

The United Arab Emirates, with USD 216.93 million in 2025. Saudi Arabia grows faster at 17.09% a year and reaches USD 975.62 million by 2035, ahead of the UAE, as AWS and Microsoft open in-Kingdom regions.

### Does Saudi Arabia require data to be stored inside the Kingdom?

Yes for cloud providers: the NCA Cloud Cybersecurity Controls require storage, processing and disaster-recovery systems inside Saudi Arabia. DC Market Insights estimates that government and financial buyers held USD 340.88 million of 2025 regional storage spend.

### How much storage do Gulf AI campuses need?

About USD 1.24 billion for the 1,150 MW of disclosed AI capacity in Stargate UAE, the Microsoft and G42 expansion and HUMAIN's programmes, at USD 1.08 million of storage per AI megawatt in 2026 (DC Market Insights estimate).

### Who are the leading Middle East data center storage vendors?

Dell Technologies, Huawei Technologies and NetApp hold about 45% of external array spend together (DC Market Insights estimate). HPE, Everpure (formerly Pure Storage), IBM, Hitachi Vantara, Lenovo, Nutanix, VAST Data and Commvault also compete.

### Which end user grows fastest in Middle East data center storage?

Hyperscale and Sovereign Cloud Providers, at 17.99% a year from USD 263.41 million in 2025 to USD 1.38 billion in 2035, as regulated data moves into in-country cloud regions.

### Why do Middle East Data Center Storage Market estimates differ?

The 2026 figure of USD 985.83 million counts only storage systems, software and support in Middle East data center halls. Wider estimates add enterprise storage outside data centers, cloud storage subscriptions, loose drives and Egypt; the earlier DC Market Insights edition was about 2.4 times larger on that basis.

### How much of Middle East data center storage spend in 2025 came from AI cluster storage?

USD 123.51 million in 2025, from 112 MW of new AI capacity at USD 1.10 million per MW. The rest, USD 651.23 million, was installed-base storage refresh and expansion, from 1,806 MW of average installed IT capacity at USD 0.36 million per MW-year.

### What does the Middle East data center storage market include and exclude?

It counts USD 774.74 million of 2025 purchases: arrays, file and object systems, tape libraries, storage software and support in data center halls across twelve countries. It excludes servers, GPUs, loose SSDs, memory chips, public cloud storage subscriptions and Africa, including Egypt.

### How much did Saudi Arabia spend on data center storage in 2025 and how fast is it growing?

USD 201.43 million in 2025, rising to USD 975.62 million by 2035 at a CAGR of 17.09%. Saudi Arabia ranks second behind the UAE in 2025, and its growth is the fastest of any region in the Middle East.

## How to cite

Data Center Market Research & Consulting | DC Market Insights, "Middle East Data Center Storage Market", updated 2026-11-03, https://www.dcmarketinsights.com/report/middle-east-data-center-storage-market