A consortium including the UAE-based technology investment company MGX has entered into a landmark agreement to acquire US-based Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion. The acquisition from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie signals a major strategic push by the Abu Dhabi entity into the global AI and data infrastructure landscape.
A Global Consortium for AI Infrastructure
The high-powered consortium features prominent global players alongside MGX, including the BlackRock-founded Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) and Global Infrastructure Partners. According to the UAE state-run Wam news agency, AIP’s anchor investors include the Kuwait Investment Authority and Singapore’s Temasek, further deepening MENA’s involvement in the deal. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is anticipated to close in the first half of 2026.
Strategic Capital for Global Expansion
The investment will inject significant new capital into Aligned, enabling the company to accelerate its global expansion and enhance its technological capabilities. Aligned currently manages 50 campuses and 78 data centres, with further development planned across the US and South America. “Our investment in Aligned will direct scalable capital to an operator built for efficiency and growth,” said Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, CEO of MGX and vice chairman of AIP. Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, added that the partnership will mobilize private capital to “accelerate AI innovation and drive global economic growth and productivity.”
High-Profile Leadership and Vision
The deal underscores the UAE’s strategic focus on becoming a global leader in AI. MGX is chaired by the UAE’s national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Mubadala CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak serving as its vice chairman. Mubadala, a founding partner of MGX, had previously invested in Aligned in August 2023, showcasing a long-term interest in the data centre sector. This acquisition follows MGX’s move in September 2024 to join the $30 billion Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership, aimed at building data centres and energy infrastructure.
About MGX
MGX is a UAE-based technology investment company focused on accelerating the development and adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi-based firm partners with a global network of leading corporations and investment funds to deploy capital into high-growth sectors, with a particular emphasis on AI infrastructure, semiconductors, and core AI technologies.
Source: AGBI
