Zoho has strongly reaffirmed its commitment to data sovereignty in the UAE. They believe that hosting data locally isn't just a technical choice anymore; it's become a strategic necessity to keep up with the adoption of AI technologies and the implementation of privacy-related laws. In his statements, Haidar Nizam, Zoho's CEO for the Middle East and Africa, said: "The UAE is confidently moving towards widespread AI adoption, and we are keen to ensure our efforts align with this ambitious vision, built on a solid foundation of absolute privacy. As the country integrates AI into various aspects of life and work, maintaining data sovereignty through local hosting has become a strategic imperative to ensure control over the nation's digital future, as reflected in the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) of 2021." Nizam added that Zoho has always embraced a "privacy-first" principle from the start, never building its business model on advertising. He emphasized the company's commitment to all regulatory frameworks for data protection, ensuring data remains secure within the country according to the highest standards of safety and governance.
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