Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company’s (EITC) subsidiary du has launched two new data centres, one in Dubai and one in Kizad, an industrial zone of Abu Dhabi.

du said the launch of the facilities is part of its commitment to expand nationwide and provide local businesses with “the infrastructure their workloads require in the evolving digital landscape”.

Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO at EITC said: “As digital transformation continues to accelerate exponentially, those we serve require cutting-edge capabilities and infrastructure to realize their aspirations and deliver on their commitments to customers. At du, we are proud to uphold our support for the national enterprise community with these new facilities.

“The unveiling of Kizad Abu Dhabi and DSO Dubai is the latest representation of our enduring determination not only to drive innovation, but also provide enterprises with the tools they need to build comprehensive digital platforms crucial to present and future business success.

“The UAE’s digital ecosystem and status as a regional enabler of digital transformation will be elevated further by the invaluable impacts that come from these new facilities and we are grateful for the enthusiasm demonstrated by local enterprises.”

With the launch of DSO Dubai and Kizad Abu Dhabi, du’s portfolio of hyperconnected data centres now includes five in total across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The country’s data centre market is set to grow as competing brands have also unveiled projects to expand their footprint in the Middle East’s tourist hotspot.

Earlier this year, wholesale data centre provider Khazna – which du used to own 26% of the business until late 2020 when it divested the stake for US$218 million – unveiled plans to build multiple data centres and increase its capacity five-fold over the next four years to provide digital infrastructure as companies and government agencies accelerate digitisation.

More recently, on August 30, a new data centre company – Edgnex – was created in Dubai, reportedly backed by a “multi-billion-dollar Dubai property firm”. A “number of sites” will be established in Africa, Asia, CIS, Europe, and the Middle East.