Cloud comparison · Updated October 2026
Azure vs AWS vs Google Cloud vs Huawei Cloud (GCC regions):which is right for your business?
We work with all four providers and recommend the one that fits your workload, your requirements and your budget. This is how we compare them for companies in the Middle East.
Compare for your team
Three quick questions, then your details.
The short answer
Azure vs AWS vs Google Cloud vs Huawei Cloud in the GCC comes down to region and workload.
Pick 
Azure for Windows and SQL Server with UAE or Qatar hosting. Pick 
AWS for web platforms and SaaS in the UAE or Bahrain. Pick 
Google Cloud for analytics and AI in Doha or Dammam. Pick 
Huawei Cloud for cost-conscious hosting in Riyadh.
What we compared
- Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure
Compared on this page
AWS
Compared on this page
- Google Cloud
Google Cloud
Compared on this page
Huawei Cloud
Compared on this page
Verdict
The short verdict
Choose Microsoft Azure
If you run Windows Server, SQL Server and Microsoft 365, and your servers should stay in the UAE or Qatar.
Learn more: Microsoft Azure servicesChoose AWS
If you are building a web platform, mobile back end or SaaS product and want the widest set of managed services, in the UAE or Bahrain.
Learn more: Amazon Web Services (AWS)Choose Google Cloud
If analytics or AI on your own data is the main goal, or your data must stay in Qatar or Saudi Arabia.
Learn more: Google Cloud (GCP) servicesChoose Huawei Cloud
If your data must stay in Saudi Arabia or the UAE and budget matters, or you already use Huawei network and storage gear.
Learn more: Huawei Cloud services
Side by side
How do Azure, AWS, Google Cloud and Huawei Cloud compare in the GCC?
Facts checked against each provider's official pages in October 2026.
| Feature | Microsoft Azure | AWS | Google Cloud | Huawei Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE region | Microsoft AzureUAE North (Dubai, 3 zones); UAE Central (Abu Dhabi, restricted) | AWSme-central-1 (3 zones) | Google CloudNone | Huawei CloudAbu Dhabi region (upcoming) |
| Saudi Arabia region | Microsoft AzureSaudi Arabia East, announced for Nov 2026 | AWSAnnounced for Dec 2026 | Google CloudDammam me-central2 (3 zones) | Huawei CloudME-Riyadh (3 zones), live since Sept 2023 |
| Qatar region | Microsoft AzureQatar Central (Doha, 3 zones) | AWSNone | Google CloudDoha me-central1 (3 zones) | Huawei CloudNone |
| Bahrain region | Microsoft AzureNone | AWSme-south-1 (3 zones) | Google CloudNone | Huawei CloudNone |
| Oman or Kuwait region | Microsoft AzureNone | AWSNone | Google CloudNone | Huawei CloudNone |
| Pricing model | Microsoft AzurePay-as-you-go, reservations, savings plan, Hybrid Benefit | AWSPay-as-you-go, Savings Plans, Reserved and Spot | Google CloudPay-as-you-go, committed and sustained use discounts | Huawei CloudPay-per-use, yearly/monthly packages, reserved instances, Savings Plans |
| Strongest at | Microsoft AzureWindows, SQL, VDI, hybrid with on-premise | AWSBreadth of services, serverless, SaaS | Google CloudBigQuery, Gemini, Kubernetes | Huawei CloudIn-country hosting in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, cost-sensitive compute |
| Generative AI | Microsoft AzureMicrosoft Foundry (OpenAI and other models) | AWSBedrock, including Claude (from UAE and Bahrain only through global cross-region inference) | Google CloudGemini Enterprise Agent Platform (formerly Vertex AI), Gemini listed in Doha and Dammam | Huawei CloudHuawei Cloud MaaS (ModelArts Studio): DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM models for Saudi and UAE customers since April 2026; Pangu models |
| Identity integration | Microsoft AzureEntra ID, same as Microsoft 365 | AWSIAM Identity Center, links to Entra ID or Google | Google CloudCloud Identity, same as Google Workspace | Huawei CloudIAM, federation with Entra ID and others |
| Arabic support | Microsoft AzureArabic-capable AI models; Arabic support from us | AWSArabic-capable AI models; Arabic support from us | Google CloudArabic-capable Gemini models; Arabic support from us | Huawei CloudArabic-capable models; Arabic support from us |
Takeaway:the region row usually decides the shortlist; the workload row decides the winner.
Side by side
What do the four clouds offer in your country?
Pick your country to see its in-country regions, the nearest alternatives and what to check with each provider.
| Feature | Microsoft Azure | AWS | Google Cloud | Huawei Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-country region | Microsoft AzureNone | AWSNone | Google CloudNone | Huawei CloudNone |
| Nearest GCC regions | Microsoft AzureUAE North (Dubai), Qatar Central (Doha) | AWSme-central-1 (UAE), me-south-1 (Bahrain) | Google Cloudme-central1 (Doha), me-central2 (Dammam) | Huawei CloudME-Riyadh; Abu Dhabi (UAE) upcoming |
| Good to know | Microsoft AzureAzure Hybrid Benefit often makes Azure the cheapest home for Windows and SQL Server | AWSTwo GCC regions to choose from, in the UAE and Bahrain | Google CloudRegions in Doha and Dammam, none in the UAE | Huawei CloudA region in Riyadh (Abu Dhabi upcoming), with pay-per-use and yearly packages |
Oman: none of the four runs a region in Oman, so your compliance team confirms which data may use a nearby GCC region. We support Omani customers from our Muscat head office and quote in OMR; prices exclude 5% VAT.
| Feature | Microsoft Azure | AWS | Google Cloud | Huawei Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-country region | Microsoft AzureUAE North (Dubai, 3 zones); UAE Central (Abu Dhabi, restricted) | AWSme-central-1 (3 zones) | Google CloudNone | Huawei CloudAbu Dhabi region (upcoming) |
| Other GCC regions | Microsoft AzureQatar Central (Doha) | AWSme-south-1 (Bahrain) | Google Cloudme-central1 (Doha), me-central2 (Dammam) | Huawei CloudME-Riyadh |
| Good to know | Microsoft AzureThe usual home for Windows and SQL workloads that must stay in the UAE | AWSMiddle East (UAE) region, 3 zones | Google CloudNo UAE region, so UAE data that must stay in the country needs another provider | Huawei CloudIn-country UAE hosting, with Riyadh alongside for Saudi operations |
UAE: Azure, AWS and Huawei Cloud keep data in the country; Google Cloud does not. We support UAE customers from our Dubai office and quote in AED; prices exclude 5% VAT.
| Feature | Microsoft Azure | AWS | Google Cloud | Huawei Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-country region | Microsoft AzureQatar Central (Doha, 3 zones) | AWSNone | Google Cloudme-central1 (Doha, 3 zones) | Huawei CloudNone |
| Other GCC regions | Microsoft AzureUAE North (Dubai) | AWSme-central-1 (UAE), me-south-1 (Bahrain) | Google Cloudme-central2 (Dammam) | Huawei CloudME-Riyadh; Abu Dhabi (UAE) upcoming |
| Good to know | Microsoft AzureKeeps Windows and SQL workloads in Doha | AWSNo Qatar region; Qatari data that must stay in the country usually goes to Azure or Google Cloud | Google CloudDoha region with Gemini models listed | Huawei CloudNo Qatar region; the nearest are the UAE and Riyadh |
Qatar: Azure and Google Cloud host in Doha. We support Qatari customers from our Doha office and quote in QAR; Qatar has no VAT.
| Feature | Microsoft Azure | AWS | Google Cloud | Huawei Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-country region | Microsoft AzureSaudi Arabia East, announced for November 2026 | AWSSaudi region announced for December 2026 | Google Cloudme-central2 (Dammam, 3 zones) | Huawei CloudME-Riyadh (3 zones), live since September 2023 |
| Other GCC regions | Microsoft AzureUAE North (Dubai), Qatar Central (Doha) | AWSme-central-1 (UAE), me-south-1 (Bahrain) | Google Cloudme-central1 (Doha) | Huawei CloudAbu Dhabi (UAE), upcoming |
| Good to know | Microsoft AzureConfirm Saudi Arabia East is live before you sign a contract that depends on it | AWSConfirm the Saudi region is live before you rely on it | Google CloudIn-Kingdom hosting with BigQuery and Gemini | Huawei CloudIn-Kingdom hosting in Riyadh, priced pay-per-use or by package |
Saudi Arabia: Huawei Cloud Riyadh and Google Cloud Dammam host in the Kingdom today. We serve Saudi customers from our Dubai office and quote in USD; prices exclude 15% VAT.
In detail
Which is cheaper in the UAE or Oman?
No provider is cheapest for every workload, and none publishes a simple per-user price, so the honest answer is to price your workload on two of them. All four charge by usage, and the bill depends on server size, hours, storage and outbound data. Three patterns hold:
- Existing Microsoft licences usually make Azure cheapest for Windows and SQL Server, through Azure Hybrid Benefit.
- Steady workloads get large discounts on every provider through one- or three-year commitments, so commitment matters more than list price.
- Region price differs: a GCC region can cost more than the same server in Europe or the US. Omani companies have no in-country region from any of the four, so they choose between UAE, Qatar, Saudi or Bahrain regions on latency, requirements and cost.
Through Gulf Infotech you can buy any of the four pay-as-you-go or under a contract; we agree the model case by case. We show two or three provider estimates side by side in the assessment. See cloud cost optimisation.
In detail
Which cloud keeps data in your country?
Your compliance team decides which data must stay in the country; the table above shows which provider runs a region there, as each provider lists it. Each provider also publishes its own certifications for its regions, which your compliance team can review. We configure the platform to match your requirements. Detail by country: cloud data residency and the security and data controls review.
In detail
Where does each cloud win in GCC companies?
- Azure typically wins in trading, manufacturing and professional-services firms with 50 to 1,000 staff that run an ERP on SQL Server, file servers and Active Directory, and already pay for Microsoft 365.
- AWS wins with software companies, e-commerce and startups that ship code weekly and want serverless and managed databases.
- Google Cloud wins with retailers, logistics and media firms that want one data warehouse across systems, and with Qatari and Saudi organisations that need local hosting plus AI.
- Huawei Cloud wins with Saudi and UAE organisations that need in-country hosting and price-sensitive compute, and with telecom and government-linked projects already on Huawei infrastructure.
In detail
What does Huawei Cloud offer in the GCC?
Huawei Cloud runs a public region in the Gulf, ME-Riyadh, with three availability zones, live since September 2023; its Abu Dhabi (UAE) region is upcoming.
For AI, Huawei Cloud MaaS (ModelArts Studio) has offered hosted open models such as DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM to customers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE since April 2026, next to Huawei's own Pangu models; we confirm each model's availability in the console. Pricing is pay-per-use (server time counted by the second and billed hourly), yearly or monthly packages, reserved instances and Savings Plans. It fits best when data must stay in Saudi Arabia or the UAE and budget matters, or when you already run Huawei networking or storage. See Huawei Cloud services.
In detail
How hard is it to switch clouds later?
Moving servers between clouds is routine; moving a design built on one provider's managed services is harder. Virtual machines, files and standard databases such as SQL Server, MySQL or PostgreSQL can move in planned waves with modest effort. Serverless functions, proprietary databases (DynamoDB, Cosmos DB, Spanner), AI pipelines and identity setups usually need rework. Data transfer out of the old provider also has a cost. To keep switching possible, we use containers, standard databases and infrastructure-as-code where the business case allows. See cloud migration services.
Our view
Which one does Gulf Infotech recommend?
We recommend the one that fits your workload and your requirements: Gulf Infotech is vendor-neutral and works with all four providers.
Microsoft Azure
For Microsoft 365 companies with Windows servers, we usually start with Azure.
Google Cloud
For data and AI projects, we usually start with Google Cloud.
AWS
For software products and SaaS, we usually start with AWS.
Huawei Cloud
For cost-conscious hosting in Riyadh, we usually start with Huawei Cloud.
We then price at least two providers before recommending one.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper in the UAE or Oman?
None of the four is always cheaper. All charge by usage, so the cheapest option depends on your workload. Azure is usually cheapest for Windows Server and SQL Server if you hold licences with Software Assurance. For Linux workloads, AWS and Google Cloud are often close, Huawei Cloud is often competitive on compute, and one- or three-year commitments matter more than list price. We price your workload on two providers before you decide.
Which is better for a small business?
For a small business, the best cloud is usually the one that matches the software you already use. A company on Microsoft 365 with a few Windows servers often fits Azure, one on Google Workspace with reporting needs fits Google Cloud, and a team building a web app fits AWS. Many small firms need only a backup or file service rather than full cloud servers.
Can we switch later, and how hard is it?
Yes, you can switch, and the effort depends on your design. Virtual machines, files and standard databases move between clouds in planned waves. Workloads built on one provider's serverless or proprietary database services need rework, and outbound data transfer has a cost. We design with containers and standard databases where practical, so a later move stays affordable.
Which works better in Arabic?
All four handle Arabic content, Arabic websites and Arabic text in their storage and databases, and each offers Arabic-capable AI models, such as Gemini on Google Cloud, GPT models on Azure, Claude on AWS Bedrock and open models on Huawei Cloud MaaS. Differences show more in AI quality for your use case than in the platform. Gulf Infotech provides support, training and documentation in Arabic for all four.
Which clouds have data centres in Saudi Arabia and the UAE?
In Saudi Arabia, Huawei Cloud runs a Riyadh region, live since September 2023, and Google Cloud runs a Dammam region. Microsoft has announced Saudi Arabia East for November 2026, and AWS says its Saudi region is on track for December 2026. In the UAE, Azure runs UAE North in Dubai, AWS runs me-central-1 and Huawei Cloud runs a public region in Abu Dhabi; Google Cloud has none. Confirm announced regions are live before you sign.
Can we use more than one cloud?
Yes. Using two clouds is common in the GCC, for example Azure for Windows servers and Microsoft 365 integration, and Google Cloud for BigQuery analytics. The cost is extra skills and tooling, so we connect them with shared identity, monitoring and backup, and report spend for both in one monthly review.
Do we buy the cloud from the provider or from Gulf Infotech?
You can buy any of the four through Gulf Infotech, on a pay-as-you-go basis or under a contract. We agree the model case by case, depending on you, the provider and the marketplace. Our design, migration and managed services are invoiced by Gulf Infotech, so one partner is accountable for the cloud and the work on it.
Is the fit assessment free?
Yes. The 30-minute fit assessment is a short, high-level review and is free: we look at your workloads and country and recommend a provider and region with a cost range. The full cloud assessment, which inventories every server and licence and optimises your cloud spend and billing, is a paid consulting service. Migration is quoted separately as a fixed-price project.
Not sure which cloud fits?
Book a free 30-minute fit assessment: tell us your workloads and country, and we will recommend a provider and region with a cost range.
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