Microsoft Appoints Naim Yazbeck as President
In a significant move for Microsoft, Naim Yazbeck has been promoted to the role of President for Microsoft Middle East and Africa (MEA), effective July 1, 2025. Yazbeck, who previously served as General Manager, UAE since 2022, has shown a remarkable ability to lead and drive impactful change in the region.
Under Yazbeck's leadership, Microsoft UAE has deepened its collaboration with government entities, enterprises, startups, and academic institutions. This strategic approach has been instrumental in accelerating digital transformation across the region, enhancing infrastructure and innovation capabilities.
One of Yazbeck's key priorities is to scale AI skilling across communities, fostering greater adoption and expertise in artificial intelligence. He believes that Microsoft is not just building technology, but building futures, creating jobs, and enabling inclusive economic growth across the region. This vision is rooted in the empowerment of people, governments, and industries.
Yazbeck's most notable achievement during his tenure as General Manager, UAE, was spearheading the landmark strategic partnership between Microsoft and G42. This partnership, aimed at accelerating the adoption of cloud and AI technologies across the Middle East and Africa, has helped the region make significant progress in digital infrastructure and economic diversification.
In his new role, Yazbeck will oversee Microsoft's operations across the Middle East and Africa region. His responsibilities include driving strategic initiatives for digital transformation, expanding cloud infrastructure, and scaling AI skilling across communities. He will also continue to cultivate impactful partnerships that align with national visions and ambitions, deepening Microsoft’s regional footprint, strengthening the partner ecosystem, and advancing digital resilience.
Yazbeck has been with Microsoft since 2009 and has shown a commitment to supporting organisations in their AI transformation journeys. His leadership priorities emphasize fostering innovation, enhancing digital capabilities, and driving inclusive economic opportunities through technology across the MEA region.
Thousands of individuals have been empowered by Yazbeck's initiatives to build future-ready capabilities. Microsoft, under Yazbeck's leadership, will continue to invest in cloud infrastructure, championing several major initiatives to expand access to Microsoft's cloud services.
In his comment on the new role, Yazbeck expressed pride in the team and the impact made in the UAE. He looks forward to continuing to forge deep partnerships that align with national visions and ambitions, ensuring that Microsoft remains at the forefront of driving digital transformation and AI skilling across the Middle East and Africa.
- Under Yazbeck's leadership as the President of Microsoft Middle East and Africa (MEA), he aims to expand cloud infrastructure and scale AI skilling across communities, thereby deepening Microsoft’s regional footprint.
- Yazbeck will be instrumental in driving strategic initiatives for digital transformation, fostering innovation, and advancing digital resilience across the MEA region.
- One of the key priorities for Yazbeck in his new role is to align Microsoft’s operations with national visions and ambitions, ensuring that the Partners ecosystem is strengthened and regional digital infrastructure is further developed.
- In the past, Yazbeck successfully spearheaded the landmark strategic partnership between Microsoft and G42, accelerating adoption of cloud and AI technologies across the region.
- Microsoft, under Yazbeck's leadership, has shown a commitment to supporting organizations in their AI transformation journeys, and to building futures, creating jobs, and enabling inclusive economic growth through technology.
- Since joining Microsoft in 2009, Yazbeck has demonstrated a remarkable ability to lead and drive impactful change, championing several major initiatives to expand access to Microsoft's cloud services.
- Yazbeck has played an essential role in fostering partnerships with various entities, including government entities, enterprises, startups, and academic institutions, in order to enhance infrastructure and innovation capabilities.
