The UAE-IX, powered by DE-CIX, is now technically capable of supporting 800 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) access. In addition, the Internet Exchange (IX) now offers 400 GE ports. These updates were announced by DE-CIX, a global IX operator, in collaboration with partner datamena, a carrier-neutral data centre based in the UAE serving the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
Cloud on-ramps are also being developed to provide direct access to Alibaba and Google clouds in the coming months. Currently, the UAE-IX is connected to more than 110 networks, with peak traffic exceeding 1 Terabit per second (a 35% increase compared to 2025), and over 6.6 terabits of connected customer capacity.
Established in 2012 and operated by DE-CIX on behalf of datamena, the UAE-IX serves as a regional hub for connectivity. In addition to the peering exchange, it offers enterprise-grade interconnection services, including Cloud Exchange, cloud routing, and connectivity to Microsoft 365, supporting consistent application performance.
The Cloud Exchange currently includes major global cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud, with Alibaba Cloud and Google Cloud to be added. The UAE-IX provides 400 GE access and is 800 GE ready, aiming to support anticipated bandwidth growth over the next decade.
DE-CIX, with its neutral interconnection ecosystem, has operated in the Middle East for over ten years, with IXs in Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, and Türkiye. The UAE-IX in Dubai operates under the DE-CIX as a Service (DaaS) model, which includes installation, maintenance, provisioning, and marketing support, allowing carriers and data centres to establish fully managed IX platforms.
These enhancements strengthen the UAE-IX’s capacity to provide resilient, high-performance, and secure interconnection services across the Middle East.
