Amazon Web Services unable to restore Bahrain data network knocked out by Iran

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced it will be unable to revive its data network in Bahrain, which was struck by Iranian attacks. This decision came after detailed inspections, and the Middle Eastern nation's authorities have been informed. The Seattle-based branch of the world's largest online retailer shared the update on Tuesday through its Health Dashboard site.

AWS has concluded it cannot restore access to resources and data that were exclusively hosted in the UAE and Bahrain zones, although customer assistance will be provided to help users migrate to alternative regions.

Since the disruptions commenced in March, most clients have been able to restore their operations in other areas by restoring backups or copying accessible data. The UAE zone had experienced a comparable issue prior to this latest attack. The US and Israel initiated their assault against Iran on February 28. AWS currently operates nine sites in the Middle East, with three in the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel, as well as three more under construction in Saudi Arabia.

The Bahrain scenario is more complex, as the damage to AWS's infrastructure affected multiple zones and surpassed the capacity of their region and multi-availability services. AWS services in the kingdom were disrupted twice in March and once in April. AWS has assisted the remaining customers in re-establishing their operations in alternate regions, either utilizing backups when available or implementing alternative solutions to address the impact of inaccessible data.

An update regarding the Bahrain situation is anticipated early in 2027. The company has not disclosed a timeline for the UAE.

AWS is currently evaluating all affected infrastructure and has explored every possibility for restoring data and resources that had not been migrated before the region became unavailable. The company's subsequent actions for rebuilding the damaged sites are unknown. The National attempted to contact AWS representatives in the UAE but was directed to the Health Dashboard site.

Iran's war has led to significant disruptions across various industries, including energy and infrastructure, as Tehran targeted key industrial facilities in US-allied states in the Gulf. Governments and companies in the affected countries have responded swiftly to the attacks, although several strikes have resulted in lasting damage, such as those to the UAE's Emirates Global Aluminium and QatarEnergy.

Companies are striving to maintain their operations while prioritizing the safety of their personnel. Cuts to technology services have proven to be among the most disruptive and expensive. In October, AWS experienced a major global outage that blacked out a segment of the internet. AWS remains committed to supporting its customers in the UAE and Bahrain.