**[Microsoft to Invest an Additional $2 Billion in the Gulf Region to Expand AI and Cloud Business Layout]** Golden Finance reports that on September 24, Microsoft (MSFT.O) announced an additional investment of approximately $2 billion in the Middle East Gulf region. This marks the company's first update on its business layout in the region since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict. Microsoft stated that by 2030, it will invest $10 billion in four Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This includes the previously announced $7.9 billion investment plan for the UAE last year. Microsoft President Brad Smith said the new investment will be allocated to cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data center operations, covering both capital expenditures and operational expenditures. Approximately $400 million of the investment will be used for the construction of submarine cables and related infrastructure to enhance network resilience and data transmission capabilities. Previously, Microsoft also invested $1.5 billion in UAE-based tech company G42 and participated in the construction of local AI data centers. However, during the Iran conflict, several data centers were affected. Amazon recently disclosed that some data in facilities located in the UAE and Bahrain that were attacked could not be recovered.