The UAE and Saudi Arabia are expected to account for more than 80% of new data center capacity in the Gulf by 2030, as the region positions itself for the next wave of AI infrastructure investment.
According to a report from S&P Global Ratings, data center capacity across the Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to nearly triple to more than 3 gigawatts by the end of the decade. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are projected to add between 2GW and 3GW of IT power capacity, supported by national AI strategies, cloud computing demand and investment in digital infrastructure.
Among the largest projects is the 5GW UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi, which includes the Stargate UAE project. Its initial 1GW phase is expected to be completed over the next three years.
In Saudi Arabia, Public Investment Fund-backed HUMAIN is targeting 1.9GW of data center capacity by 2030, with plans to reach between 6GW and 6.6GW by 2034.
S&P said the expansion will increase pressure on power generation, cooling and connectivity infrastructure. HUMAIN’s planned 1.9GW capacity could consume about 17 terawatt-hours of electricity annually if fully used, equivalent to roughly 6% of Saudi Arabia’s current electricity consumption.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
