Connect | MENA - Dubai 2025

As Saudi Arabia and the UAE compete to dominate the MENA market, the region faces unprecedented opportunities alongside significant challenges. With AI power consumption projected to triple by 2030, the demand for hyperscale and wholesale data centers is surging, reshaping an already dynamic landscape.

No two parts of the world are alike, making it essential to understand the environment in which we operate. From complex regulations to local and international financing, can the UAE and KSA overcome these barriers to attract global capital and technology? While the UAE boasts a more open market with a robust international presence, Saudi Arabia's local support could rapidly accelerate growth. As these two countries vie for dominance, the ultimate prize remains the power of artificial intelligence.

This session invites experts to explore whether MENA can leverage its financial models and risk appetite to outpace established players in Europe and Asia. Join us to delve into:

• Ambitious AI: Strategies positioning the MENA region as a global leader.
• Smart Cities, smart investment: How investment in smart cities demonstrates readiness for greater data loads.
• Diversity in strength: Understanding the region's unique culture to establish best practices and enhance standards.

Growth in the MENA region is exponential, projected to reach $8 billion by 2028, driven by the rollout of cloud computing, 5G, and computational intelligence. However, it is the construction sector that must facilitate this growth.

Efficient design methods and modularization are increasingly vital for overcoming supply chain hurdles. Sustainable construction practices that incorporate renewable energy and improve water usage efficiency (WUE) are equally important. As inflation affects construction costs and energy prices, the need for innovative, flexible solutions becomes paramount.

How do region-specific data center hotspots influence the construction sector, and are they creating bottlenecks for materials and labor? Can the Middle East align hyperscale builds with sustainability targets? Join us to explore how organizations can navigate these complexities to build resilient and adaptive infrastructure.

• Extreme Demand: The MENA data center market is rapidly expanding, fueled by cloud services, AI, and 5G technology.
• Today’s Success: Modular construction versus unique designs amid supply chain and sustainability challenges.
• Bottlenecks: Strategies to manage rising costs, workforce shortages, and client demands.

As sustainability becomes a critical trend, countries in this region are setting ambitious renewable energy targets that are transforming the data center landscape. With the UAE aiming for 50% clean energy in its power mix by 2050 and Saudi Arabia pursuing similar goals by 2030, data center operators must prioritize energy and grid efficiency tailored to the region's unique climate.

Despite challenges like reliance on oil and gas and the intense sunlight impacting solar panel efficiency, there is substantial potential for advancements in water desalination and waste reduction that can be a positive influence to this industry and country as a whole.

Join this session to explore how sustainability extends beyond energy consumption to encompass IT performance, Scope 3 emissions and water conservation.

• Tangible targets: What sustainability programs are driving innovation in the region?
• Integrate to innovate: How can new, energy-efficient designs enhance AI integration?
• Conserve & recover: Sustainable IT practices that address energy use and IT performance to minimize waste.

It's no secret that data centers in the Middle East must innovate to manage the region’s harsh climate and an even harsher demand for computing power, particularly as we move towards the age of AI.

Some cooling methods used in Europe and North America may not be suitable for this region and while the global conversation is heading towards liquid cooling, the issue of water scarcity poses significant risks to data centers that necessitate water for cooling.

So is this the end for liquid cooling, before it began to take hold in this region? What innovative HVAC designs can accommodate, or even replace liquid cooling?

Against all the odds, will we see an increase in direct-to-chip liquid cooling and immersion cooling? What role does air cooling still have to play? Are water-cooled chiller systems the way forward? Join this panel to address:

• Climatic challenges: What merit is there for a liquid cooling conversation?
• Think outside the box: What innovative cooling methods are right for the MENA region?

Growth in the MENA region is exponential, projected to reach $8 billion by 2028, driven by the rollout of cloud computing, 5G, and computational intelligence. However, it is the construction sector that must facilitate this growth.

Efficient design methods and modularization are increasingly vital for overcoming supply chain hurdles. Sustainable construction practices that incorporate renewable energy and improve water usage efficiency (WUE) are equally important. As inflation affects construction costs and energy prices, the need for innovative, flexible solutions becomes paramount.

How do region-specific data center hotspots influence the construction sector, and are they creating bottlenecks for materials and labor? Can the Middle East align hyperscale builds with sustainability targets? Join us to explore how organizations can navigate these complexities to build resilient and adaptive infrastructure.

• Extreme Demand: The MENA data center market is rapidly expanding, fueled by cloud services, AI, and 5G technology.
• Today’s Success: Modular construction versus unique designs amid supply chain and sustainability challenges.
• Bottlenecks: Strategies to manage rising costs, workforce shortages, and client demands.