Web infrastructure in Dubai
Dubai is the primary data center hub in the United Arab Emirates, hosting 5 facilities that serve the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia markets. Equinix, Inc. operates 3 facilities, making it the largest carrier-neutral provider in the city. The single internet exchange, UAE-IX, connects 104 networks, giving Dubai an outsized role in regional traffic exchange.
Dubai as an internet hub
The top operator by facility count is Equinix, Inc. (3 data centers), followed by datamena and Khazna Data Centers Limited with 1 facility each. UAE-IX is the only IXP in the city and acts as the main peering point for the Gulf region.
Dubai offers connectivity to subsea cable landings and terrestrial fiber routes linking Asia and Europe. Enterprises buy hosting here for low-latency access to MENA markets, cloud on-ramps, and carrier-neutral colocation from Equinix. The market is concentrated among three operators serving finance, oil and gas, and content distribution clients.
Key facts
- Dubai has 5 data centers operated by 3 providers.
- Equinix, Inc. runs 3 facilities in the city.
- UAE-IX is the only exchange, connecting 104 networks.
- datamena and Khazna each operate 1 data center in Dubai.
- Dubai is the main peering hub for the United Arab Emirates.