Amazon Web Services to Open Region in Middle East by Early 2019

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expanding its global infrastructure with the planned opening of a new AWS Region in Bahrain in early 2019. The region will initially comprise three Availability Zones, allowing AWS customers and APN Partners to run workloads and store data within the Middle East with reduced latency.

In addition to the Bahrain region, AWS announced it will launch an AWS Edge Network Location in the United Arab Emirates during the first quarter of 2018. This will bring services such as Amazon CloudFront and AWS Shield closer to users in the region, adding to AWS's 84 points of presence worldwide.

The expansion signifies AWS's continued investment in the Middle East. The company opened its first offices in Bahrain and Dubai earlier in 2017 to support organizations of all sizes transitioning to the AWS Cloud. AWS has also supported technology education and startup growth through its AWS Educate and AWS Activate programs.

The new region is expected to support the digital transformation efforts of public sector organizations. For instance, the Bahrain Institute of Public Administration has migrated its Learning Management System to AWS, achieving cost reductions.