TALKING BUSINESS that enhance interconnectivity, and by large-scale renewable energy projects such as the 2 GW Al Dhafra PV Plant and TAQA’ s grid expansion. Together, they provide the sustainable foundation upon which data-intensive industries can thrive.
A demand curve like aviation
The growth trajectory mirrors the aviation boom of past decades. Current live capacity in the UAE stands at roughly 250 MW, with another 500 MW under development. By the end of the decade, capacity could potentially quadruple. This demand curve is driven by sovereign workloads, hyperscalers, AI research and private sector digitalisation.
Much like the aviation sector, this is not a race with a single winner. Just as airlines, regulators, and airport operators collectively built an ecosystem around world-class airports, multiple stakeholders – Government-backed developers, telcos, and private players – are all needed to deliver the next-generation data economy.
Overcoming today’ s turbulence
As with aviation, rapid growth in data infrastructure is not without turbulence.
Bjorn Viedge, General Manager at ALEC Data Center Solutions
At ALEC Data Center Solutions, we see three pivotal challenges shaping the market.
People and skills remain the cornerstone. The global shortage of professionals who can design, build and operate AI-ready facilities is acute. The UAE has recognised this and is investing in its human capital. Just as flight academies once produced the pilots and engineers who made air travel viable, new training programmes and partnerships are emerging to equip the workforce for digital infrastructure.
The second challenge lies in infrastructure and supply. From power and grid connections to specialist equipment and AI servers, the demand surge is straining global supply chains. Here too, the UAE has an edge. The country’ s history of coordinating complex procurement for mega-projects has fostered a culture of forward planning and strategic partnerships. Much as aviation alliances secured access to next-generation aircraft, today’ s digital leaders are forming early, long-term partnerships with global vendors to ensure capacity keeps pace with demand.
Finally, there is sustainability and climate. Operating high-density compute in an arid environment demands innovation in thermal management and energy use. The UAE is addressing this challenge head-on, aligning data centre expansion with national renewable energy strategies. From liquid cooling and seawater use to AI-driven airflow optimisation, operators are deploying advanced techniques to ensure sustainability. The lesson is clear: just as airports were designed for efficiency and resilience, so too must data centres be built with environmental sustainability at their core.
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