Cloud use case · Modernise
Virtual desktops (VDI) on cloud
Windows desktops that live in a GCC cloud region, reachable from any laptop, so company data stays off personal devices.
Why companies ask us to run their virtual desktops
Microsoft Solutions Partner for Modern Work
and Google Cloud Premier Partner. We are also an AWS partner and a Huawei Cloud partner.
Since 2007
with 1,500+ active cloud customers across the Middle East.
Offices in Dubai, Muscat (head office) and Doha
serving all six GCC countries.
350,000+ users migrated
In short
VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) runs Windows desktops on cloud servers and streams them to any device, so files and apps never sit on the laptop. Gulf Infotech, in the Middle East since 2007, designs and runs VDI on Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Amazon WorkSpaces and Huawei Cloud Workspace, choosing the one that fits your users and region.
What problem does VDI solve?
What buyers tell us:
What buyers tell us
"Contractors and new joiners need our ERP on day one, and we do not want to ship laptops."
"Staff work from home on their own PCs and company files end up on them."
"Our accounting software only runs on Windows and half the team uses Macs."
"We buy new PCs every few years just to keep the same apps running."
VDI moves the desktop into the data centre. The device becomes a screen and keyboard; the files, the apps and the Windows licence stay in the cloud, under your control. Lose a laptop and nothing is lost but the laptop.
Who is VDI for?
Firms with contractors, call-centre or shift staff
- Fit
- Strong fit. Shared multi-session desktops keep cost per user down
Companies with Windows-only line-of-business apps (accounting, ERP clients, CAD viewers)
- Fit
- Strong fit
Regulated teams (finance, legal, healthcare admin) that must keep data off devices
- Fit
- Strong fit
Branches in several GCC cities that use one central application
- Fit
- Good fit, if latency to the region is low
Heavy 3D design or video editing
- Fit
- Possible on GPU desktops, but price it carefully
Office workers who only use email, Office and a browser
- Fit
- Usually not needed. Zoho Workplace, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace on a managed laptop is simpler
Which VDI options are there in the GCC?
Checked against official Microsoft, AWS and Huawei pages in October 2026.
| Option | Where desktops can run in the GCC | How it is billed | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) | Session hosts in UAE North (Dubai) or Qatar Central (Doha). AVD service metadata (host pools, workspaces) is stored outside the Middle East | Users need an eligible licence; you pay Azure for VMs, disks, profile storage and network, pay-as-you-go or reserved. External users can use per-user access pricing | Windows 11 and Windows 10 multi-session, so several users share one VM. Windows client session hosts are charged at Linux compute rates |
| Windows 365 | Cloud PCs can be provisioned in UAE North and in Qatar Central (restricted) | Fixed price per user per month. Business: up to 300 users. Enterprise: unlimited users | One dedicated Cloud PC per user, managed in Intune. Enterprise needs Windows E3, Intune and Entra ID P1 licences |
| Amazon WorkSpaces | Not offered in AWS's UAE or Bahrain regions today | Personal: flat monthly (AlwaysOn) or hourly with a small monthly fee (AutoStop). Pools: base fee plus hourly use | Windows Server desktops are licensed by AWS. Windows 10 and 11 need your own licence on dedicated hardware |
| Huawei Cloud Workspace | Riyadh; Abu Dhabi (UAE) upcoming. | Monthly plans; pay-per-use also offered | Uses Huawei's HDP display protocol. Worth a look for UAE or Saudi projects on Huawei Cloud |
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)
- Where desktops can run in the GCC
- Session hosts in UAE North (Dubai) or Qatar Central (Doha). AVD service metadata (host pools, workspaces) is stored outside the Middle East
- How it is billed
- Users need an eligible licence; you pay Azure for VMs, disks, profile storage and network, pay-as-you-go or reserved. External users can use per-user access pricing
- What to know
- Windows 11 and Windows 10 multi-session, so several users share one VM. Windows client session hosts are charged at Linux compute rates
Windows 365
- Where desktops can run in the GCC
- Cloud PCs can be provisioned in UAE North and in Qatar Central (restricted)
- How it is billed
- Fixed price per user per month. Business: up to 300 users. Enterprise: unlimited users
- What to know
- One dedicated Cloud PC per user, managed in Intune. Enterprise needs Windows E3, Intune and Entra ID P1 licences
Amazon WorkSpaces
- Where desktops can run in the GCC
- Not offered in AWS's UAE or Bahrain regions today
- How it is billed
- Personal: flat monthly (AlwaysOn) or hourly with a small monthly fee (AutoStop). Pools: base fee plus hourly use
- What to know
- Windows Server desktops are licensed by AWS. Windows 10 and 11 need your own licence on dedicated hardware
Huawei Cloud Workspace
- Where desktops can run in the GCC
- Riyadh; Abu Dhabi (UAE) upcoming.
- How it is billed
- Monthly plans; pay-per-use also offered
- What to know
- Uses Huawei's HDP display protocol. Worth a look for UAE or Saudi projects on Huawei Cloud
AVD licence check: Microsoft 365 E3, E5, A3, A5, F3 and Business Premium, and Windows Enterprise E3 or E5, all include AVD access rights for internal users. Many companies already own the licence and only pay for Azure capacity.
What does Gulf Infotech do?
Assess
we count users by type (task, knowledge, power), list the apps each group runs, check existing Microsoft licences and measure latency from your offices to the candidate regions.
Design
we choose AVD, Windows 365 or a mix, size host pools, design profile storage, sign-in with conditional access, and printing.
Migrate
we build the golden image, package the apps, move user profiles and run a pilot group before wider rollout.
Run
we patch images, scale hosts to working hours to cut cost, watch sign-in times and support users remotely in English or Arabic.
Which VDI option should you pick?
Azure Virtual Desktop, multi-session
- Best when
- 20 or more users with similar apps, shift or contract staff, and you own Microsoft 365 E3, F3 or Business Premium
- Trade-off
- You pay for and manage the Azure capacity; good savings need autoscaling
Windows 365
- Best when
- You want one fixed price per user and no infrastructure to run
- Trade-off
- Each user gets a dedicated Cloud PC, so it costs more than shared desktops for large shift teams
AVD plus Windows 365
- Best when
- Office staff on Cloud PCs, shift staff on shared AVD hosts
- Trade-off
- Two models to manage, though both sit in Intune
Amazon WorkSpaces
- Best when
- Your applications already run in AWS and users can accept a region outside the GCC
- Trade-off
- No GCC region today, so latency and data location need checking
Huawei Cloud Workspace
- Best when
- A Saudi project already on Huawei Cloud
- Trade-off
- Confirm the service in Riyadh first
Takeaway: for most GCC companies with Microsoft 365, the choice is between AVD and Windows 365, and the user mix decides it. See Windows 365 vs Azure Virtual Desktop.
How is VDI priced?
VDI is priced either per user or per capacity, and the right model depends on how many hours desktops run.
Per user, fixed
Windows 365 charges a monthly fee per Cloud PC whatever the usage.
Per capacity
AVD bills the Azure VMs and storage behind the desktops, by the hour or second, with one- or three-year reservations for steady hosts. Licences come from your Microsoft 365 or Windows plan.
Hourly per desktop
Amazon WorkSpaces AutoStop and Pools charge for hours used plus a small monthly fee.
Shift patterns matter more than list price. A shared AVD host that serves three shifts a day spreads one VM across many users. We model both options on your user count before you commit. We quote our VDI work per project.
What are the typical steps?
- Step 01
Discovery
users, apps, licences and office latency.
- Step 02
Pilot design
one host pool or a batch of Cloud PCs in the chosen region.
- Step 03
Image and apps
build and test the Windows image with your applications.
- Step 04
Pilot
typically 10 to 20 users doing real work for two weeks, then fix what they report.
- Step 05
Rollout
move remaining groups, retire or repurpose old PCs.
- Step 06
Operate
monthly patching, scaling schedules and a cost report.
Cloud services in your country
Cloud services in the UAE
AVD and Windows 365 in UAE North.
Cloud services in Qatar
Azure Qatar Central.
Cloud services in Oman
Omani users connect to UAE or Qatar regions.
Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia
in-Kingdom cloud hosting for Saudi teams (servers and data, not VDI).
Frequently asked questions
Which cloud is best for VDI?
For most GCC companies, Microsoft's cloud is best for VDI, because Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 both run in UAE North and Qatar Central and many firms already own the licences through Microsoft 365. Amazon WorkSpaces is not offered in a GCC region today. Huawei Cloud Workspace is worth checking for UAE or Saudi projects that already run on Huawei Cloud. We deliver all four.
Can the desktops and data stay in my country?
In the UAE and Qatar, yes for the desktops and the data on them: AVD session hosts and Windows 365 Cloud PCs can run in UAE North and Qatar Central. AVD's service metadata, such as host pool names, is stored outside the Middle East. Saudi Arabia East is announced for November 2026. Omani, Kuwaiti and Bahraini users connect to a neighbouring region.
How much does VDI cost per month?
VDI costs either a fixed monthly fee per user, with Windows 365, or the Azure capacity your desktops use, with Azure Virtual Desktop. AVD access is included in Microsoft 365 E3, E5, F3 and Business Premium, so those customers pay only for VMs and storage. Shared multi-session hosts usually cost less per user than dedicated Cloud PCs. We model both on your user count.
How long does it take to set up VDI?
The time depends on how many applications must be packaged and tested, not on the platform. A Windows 365 pilot can start as soon as licences are assigned. AVD needs a host pool, profile storage and a tested image first. We always run a pilot group for real work before moving everyone, and give you a dated plan after discovery; its timeline, like the pilot length above, is an indicative estimate that depends on your requirements.
Is VDI fast enough from Oman or Saudi Arabia?
It depends on the network path, so we measure it rather than promise it. Microsoft recommends under 150 milliseconds round trip from user to region for Azure Virtual Desktop. During the assessment we test latency from each of your offices in Muscat, Riyadh or elsewhere to UAE North and Qatar Central, and pick the region with the better result.
Can staff use VDI on Macs, tablets and home PCs?
Yes. Microsoft lists connections to Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 from Windows, macOS, iOS and iPadOS, Android and web browsers, and Windows App is now its main client. The desktop runs in the cloud, so the device only displays it. We add conditional access so personal devices can reach the desktop without storing company files locally.
Plan your virtual desktops
Tell us how many users you have and which apps they run. We will reply with a platform recommendation and a monthly cost model.