Cloud Migration Reality Check for UAE Businesses
Cloud migration is a strategy, not a destination. Moving everything blindly increases costs and complexity without improving performance. The right answer is almost always a thoughtful hybrid.
What to Move to Cloud First (Quick Wins)
Email and collaboration: Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace is almost always better than on-premise Exchange. Better uptime (99.99% SLA), anywhere access, no server to maintain.
File sharing: SharePoint Online + OneDrive replaces local file servers for most SMEs.
Dev and test environments: Cloud is ideal — spin up, use, shut down. Stop paying for idle servers.
Backup: Cloud backup should be part of every strategy regardless of where your primary data lives.
What to Consider Keeping On-Premise
- Large local datasets (video production, medical imaging, CAD files)
- Latency-sensitive applications requiring sub-10ms response
- Data residency requirements (Azure UAE North and UAE South satisfy UAE requirements)
Azure vs AWS vs Google Cloud in UAE
| Provider | UAE Presence | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Azure | UAE North + UAE South | Microsoft-stack, M365 integration |
| AWS | Middle East UAE region | Startups, large-scale workloads |
| Google Cloud | No UAE region | Google Workspace users, AI/ML |
For most UAE businesses: Azure UAE North or UAE South recommended.
Migration Costs
| Scope | Estimated Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Email to Microsoft 365 (50 users) | 3,000 to 8,000 |
| File server to SharePoint (SME) | 5,000 to 12,000 |
| On-premise to Azure (3 to 5 VMs) | 12,000 to 25,000 |
| Full infrastructure (10+ VMs) | 30,000 to 100,000+ |
SAS IT manages cloud migrations for UAE businesses. Free cloud assessment | +971-526716178
*Related: Server Solutions Dubai | Managed IT Services Dubai*
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