Databricks opens Abu Dhabi office, because data is the new oil
A tech company's expansion feels like a spreadsheet in a desert.
The story
Databricks is expanding to Abu Dhabi as part of its regional growth strategy, following a summit where business leaders expressed continued interest in the region.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
Databricks is opening an office in Abu Dhabi, which is great news for anyone who’s ever wondered how to make a spreadsheet feel like a geopolitical statement. The company, which helps businesses manage and analyze data, is clearly betting that the Middle East’s appetite for tech is as strong as its appetite for coffee. But here’s the real kicker: the event where this was announced was hosted by a U.S. investment firm called Goanna Capital. Not a typo—Goanna, like the Australian marsupial that’s basically a kangaroo’s less ambitious cousin. It’s a reminder that in the world of tech expansion, even the names of your partners can feel like a subtle joke about the absurdity of it all. Databricks is clearly not just selling software; it’s selling a vibe. And the vibe, apparently, is ‘we’re here to make data feel important, even in a place where oil is still the main export.’