Saudi Arabia is making a significant push to become a major global hub for data centers. A key player, Humain, is actively seeking a United States partner to help realize an ambitious expansion plan. This initiative involves developing substantial data center capacity, totaling a staggering 6.6 gigawatts (GW) across multiple sites within the kingdom.
This massive undertaking is notable not just for its scale but also for the attractive conditions offered. The Saudi government is providing subsidies, particularly in the form of affordable energy, which is a critical factor in the operational costs of large-scale data centers. Access to low-cost power is a significant advantage for attracting foreign investment and establishing competitive infrastructure.
The search for a US partner highlights Saudi Arabia’s strategy to leverage international expertise and capital in its digital transformation journey. American technology companies and investors are often at the forefront of data center innovation and development. A partnership would likely involve collaboration on everything from design and construction to operation and technology deployment for these high-capacity facilities.
The 6.6GW capacity target underscores the kingdom’s commitment to building the infrastructure necessary to support its vision for a digital economy. This includes facilitating cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and other data-intensive technologies. Such a large-scale build-out would not only serve domestic needs but also position Saudi Arabia as a central point for data traffic and services in the wider Middle East region and potentially beyond.
Securing a reputable US partner is crucial for this project. It would bring not only technical know-how and financial backing but also bolster confidence among other potential international investors. The Saudi government’s support, coupled with the sheer scale of the project, presents a compelling opportunity for companies looking to establish a significant footprint in a rapidly growing digital market. The focus is clearly on attracting leading global players to accelerate the development of world-class digital infrastructure.
Source: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/saudi-arabias-ai-co-humain-looking-for-us-data-center-equity-partner-targets-66gw-by-2034-with-subsidized-electricity/
