The Middle East & Africa (MEA) data-storage market is projected to grow from USD 8 billion in 2025 to USD 27.2 billion by 2035 at a 13 % CAGR. Future Market Insights links the growth directly to multi-billion-dollar infrastructure pledges announced at events such as LEAP 2025, where Equinix confirmed a USD 1 billion, 100 MW Riyadh facility.

Amazon Web Services unveiled a USD 5.3 billion Saudi cloud region slated for 2026. At the same summit, DataVolt signed a USD 5 billion deal to develop a 1.5 GW net-zero campus in NEOM’s Oxagon, highlighting how green-finance covenants are reshaping power and cooling choices.

Edge expansion is equally pivotal--IFC’s USD 100 million financing for Raxio Group will seed carrier-neutral sites from Ethiopia to Angola, bringing latency-sensitive fintech and gaming workloads back from European hubs. Flash arrays and 25-100 GbE fabrics are gaining share as 5G, IoT, and AI analytics demand sub-millisecond access times, while regulators from Saudi Arabia to South Africa tighten audits on data residency and resilience, rewarding providers that pair ISO 27001 controls with sovereign-cloud zones.

Summing up the opportunity, Judith Gardiner, vice-president for emerging markets at Equinix, told journalists at LEAP 2025, “The new Saudi facility will serve our hyperscale and retail customers in-kingdom and attract international clients to the Middle East,”. This strategy would transform the region into a globally integrated data-supply node.

Attributes	Description
Historical Size, 2024	USD 7,161.4 million
Estimated Size, 2025	USD 8 billion
Projected Size, 2035	USD 27.2 billion
Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035)	13% CAGR

Microsoft’s additional USD 300 million AI-cloud investment in South Africa, unveiled in March 2025, and Oracle’s pledge to add eight new cloud regions-including expanded capacity in Johannesburg-announced in January 2025, sharpen hyperscaler momentum. Abu-Dhabi-based G42 Cloud’s 2023 alliance with VAST Data is now rolling out ultra-dense, all-flash object stores that slash power per terabyte by 60 %.

Future Market Insights forecasts MEA enterprise-storage deployments will triple by 2030, demanding roughly 8 GW of renewable-backed power to meet AI, IoT, and sovereign-compliance workloads by enterprises. Such investments attracts significant opportunities for market players in data storage.

This below table presents the expected CAGR for the Middle East & Africa data storage market over several semi-annual periods spanning from 2024 to 2034. In the first half (H1) of the year from 2024 to 2034, the industry is predicted to surge at a CAGR of 13.2%, followed by a slightly lower growth rate of 12.9% in the second half (H2) of the same year.

Particular	Value CAGR
H1, 2024	13.2% (2024 to 2034)
H2, 2024	12.9% (2024 to 2034)
H1, 2025	13.6% (2025 to 2035)
H2, 2025	12.7% (2025 to 2035)

Moving into the subsequent period, from H1 2025 to H2 2035, the CAGR is projected to hold at 13.6% in the first half from 2025 to 2035 and remain considerably decrease at 12.7% in the second half 2025 to 2035. In the first half (H1) 2025 to 2035 the market witnessed an increase of 40 BPS while in the second half (H2) 2025 to 2035 the market witnessed a decrease of 20 BPS.

Enterprise Storage Segment leads with a Share of 60.2% by Storage Type

In 2025, the enterprise storage segment is projected to hold a dominant position in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) data storage market, accounting for approximately 60.2% of the market share in 2025. This growth is driven by the region's ongoing digital transformation initiatives, including the adoption of cloud computing and big data analytics. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have implemented stringent data control and safety regulations, further increasing the demand for local enterprise storage solutions.

Major technology companies such as Dell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and Huawei are investing significantly in the region, offering advanced storage options like all-flash arrays and hybrid storage systems tailored to meet the needs of MEA businesses.

The expansion of data centers to support cloud services and AI-based applications also contributes to the market's growth. NetApp, a key player in the market, announced plans in 2023 to expand its presence in the Middle East, reflecting the anticipated continued focus on enterprise storage as businesses embrace digitalization and new regulations come into effect.

Telecom & IT Industry Dominates with 28.4% Market Share in 2025

The telecom and IT industry segment is expected to account for approximately 28.4% of the MEA data storage market in 2025. The rollout of 5G networks in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the rise of smart city projects have significantly increased the need for scalable and reliable storage solutions. Telecom companies are investing heavily in cutting-edge storage systems to manage the surge in data traffic and support cloud services essential for modern operations.

According to Future Market Insights, IT spending in the GCC countries exceeded USD 90 billion in 2023, underscoring the commitment of governments and vendors to digital infrastructure development. Leading telecom operators like Saudi Telecom Company and Etisalat are enhancing their storage capabilities to accommodate the growing data demands and to facilitate the delivery of advanced services.

The market's growth has a strong connection to several main factors. These include the rise in cloud service, smart city progress, and 5G network rollout. These steps forward are causing a big increase in data creation. This, in turn, is boosting the need for advanced and flexible data storage solutions.

In the UAE, the government's focus on smart city projects, along with more individual using digital devices, is encouraging investments into cloud storage solutions. Big tech firms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Oracle have grown their data storage services in the region.

AWS, for example, set up a new infrastructure region in Cape Town making cloud services easier to access across Africa. In the same way, Oracle's new cloud region in Abu Dhabi aims to meet the increasing need for safe scalable data storage in the GCC.

In Israel, the government's Nimbus Project works with big tech companies like Google and AWS to change how the public sector stores data by moving key services to the cloud. This plan is part of a bigger push to update IT systems and improve data security across the country.

South Africa is also emerging in the MEA data storage scene, with big investments coming in from both government and business to boost data center abilities. The USA International Development Finance Corporation's USD 300 million investment in Africa Data Centres shows how important this region is becoming as a spot for storing and crunching data.

These changes highlight how IT sector growth has a big impact on the need for cutting-edge data storage in the Middle East and Africa. This makes the region a key player in the worldwide data storage market.

As companies in MEA undergo digital shift, they need strong ways to protect data. This has led to more individuals as well as industries wanting safe methods to store data.

A key example of this trend is how cloud-based data storage services with top-notch security features have caught on. Take the financial services industry, which depends heavily on digital banking. It's seen a notable increase in the use of encrypted cloud storage to protect sensitive customer data.

This industry alone makes up a big chunk of the region's cybersecurity spending, with banks in the UAE and Saudi Arabia spearheading efforts to set up secure data environments.

In the similar manner, government plans like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE's National Cybersecurity Strategy are pushing companies to adopt strict data protection measures. These plans stress how important cybersecurity is for national infrastructure leading to more investment in secure data storage solutions that can face complex cyber threats.

The need for data storage and cloud services is on the rise driven by smart cities, IoT, and 5G tech. This growth has made it clear that the region lacks in having enough skilled workers to manage and maintain these complex systems.

This lack of talent has sparked new ideas to close the skills gap. Microsoft, for example, has stepped up in the region. They started the Microsoft Cloud Society, which has trained more than 200,000 local members in cloud and AI tech.

Also, governments are tackling the worker shortage head-on. One such effort is the African Development Bank's plan to train 50 million young people and create 25 million jobs. These programs aim to give youngsters the digital skills they need.

The lack of skilled workers has pushed companies to invest in automation and AI-powered management tools for data centers. Businesses are now using these technologies to make up for the shortage of human skilled labor, with tools like predictive maintenance and automated monitoring becoming more widespread.

This change not only helps in reducing the immediate effects of the skills gap but also boosts the productivity and dependability of data center operations throughout the region.

The financial and telecom sectors are going through rapid digital transformation. This is creating need for enhanced data storage, as these industries create more and more of it.

Banks and other money-related businesses now use online banking, phone payments, and new technology tools more often. This means they need strong systems to store all the data from transactions. Take the banking industry, for instance.

They're investing heavily in cloud storage and hyper-converged infrastructures that provide scalability, security, and real-time data processing capabilities. Also complex regulations about keeping data safe are making banks step up their game when it comes to storing data. This leads to more demand for smart storage solutions in the region.

In the same way, the telecom industry is growing fast as companies roll out 5G networks Internet of Things (IoT) tech, and expand mobile broadband. These changes mean there is high need of big data storage systems that can handle lots of data and offer reliable quick services.

Telecom firms in the MEA area are putting money into data centers and cloud services to back up their expanding systems. Both global and local players are making big investments in this field.

For example, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Oracle have grown their data center footprint in the area to meet rising demand from telecom companies and banks. Also, laying new undersea cables and building smart city projects are driving up the need for cutting-edge data storage options. This makes this sector a crucial engine of growth for the data storage market in MEA.

The Middle East & Africa data storage market went through notable fluctuations and technological advancements in the historical period. The industry was valued at a valuation of USD 4,515.2 million in 2020 to reach USD 7,161.4 million in 2024 with a CAGR of 12.6% from 2020 to 2024.

During pandemic, there was a shift towards more advanced data storage solutions due to rising remote trends in workspace background. GCC Countries, especially The UAE and Saudi Arabia led the region in attracting huge investments owing to their rapid technological advancements.

The market witnessed a considerable growth during the forecasting period between 2025 and 2035. The market reached the valuation of USD 27.2 billion in 2035 from USD 8 billion in 2025 with the CAGR of 13.0%.

With continuously rising advancements in the Middle East, the market expectation is to grow only further. The region is also witnessing high investments in digital infrastructure and rapid adopting of emerging technologies, which will support the market growth.

Tier 1 companies have acquired substantial share of 45% to 50% in the Middle East & Africa data storage market. These companies are driving global expansion with partnerships and large-scale acquisitions. Western Digital, Dell EMC and Microsoft Corporation are top Tier 1 companies that hold the largest market share globally. These vendors are providing wide range of data storage solutions along with personalized demands.

Tier 2 vendors in the global Middle East & Africa data storage market are focusing on enhancing their solutions capabilities. These vendors have the global market reach but lack in competing owing to the gaps in features and capabilities. The vendors in tier 2 bracket includes NetApp Inc., HPE MEA, IBM Corporation among others. These vendors hold around 15% to 20% market share.

Tier 3 companies represent 30% to 35% of share of total Middle East & Africa data storage industry. These vendors focus on the market expansion and providing end-user specific solutions. The vendors in the bracket includes Hitachi Data Systems, Open Text Corporation, Micron Technology among others.

Competition in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) data storage market is fierce. This stems from the quick digital shift and increased cloud services and data technology use. The market moves fast, with high demand for storage solutions that are scalable, secure, and cost-effective.

Key things that shape the industries include the rising adoption of cloud computing and stricter regulations around data sovereignty and safety. As regional firms rely more on digital systems, they want advanced storage tech like SSDs, NVMe, and mixed storage setups. This competitive market also means providers must offer unique answers for different verticals, from telecom to finance and healthcare.

• Veritas Technologies
• Rubrik
• Zadara
• Arcserve
• Cloudian
• ExaGrid
• Synology

Report Attributes	Details
Estimated Size (2025)	USD 8 billion
Projected Size (2035)	USD 27.2 billion
CAGR (2025-2035)	13%
Base Year for Estimation	2024
Historical Period	2020 to 2024
Forecast Period	2025 to 2035
Quantitative Units	Revenue in USD million and Volume in petabytes
By Storage Type	Consumer Storage, Enterprise Storage
By Storage Capacity	Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Memory Card, Optical Disk, Solid State Devices, USB Flash Drives
By Enterprise Size	Small Offices (1-9 employees), Small Enterprises (10-99 employees), Medium-sized Enterprises (100-499 employees), Large Enterprises (500-999 employees), Very Large Enterprises (1,000+ employees)
By Industry	BFSI, Defense & Aerospace, Education, Government, Healthcare, Telecom & IT, Others
By Region	North America, Latin America, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa
Key Players	STC Solutions, Dell EMC, IBM, Lenovo, Huawei, Hitachi Vantara, Fujitsu, Seagate, Western Digital, Veritas Technologies
Additional Attributes	Rapid regional cloud migration, regulatory reforms driving data sovereignty, and growing enterprise demand for hybrid and edge storage architectures are accelerating adoption. Expansion of AI and analytics further fuels demand for scalable solutions.
Customization and Pricing	Customization and Pricing Available on Request