Dominican private bank Asprofin has announced a proposal for a large-scale data center program of up to $12 billion in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The plan includes three hyperscale campuses with an AI computing capacity of between 750MW and 1.28GW over a phased development of 10 to 15 years.

The estimated investment ranges between $5bn and $12bn, depending on final engineering design, energy configuration, and deployment structure.

Asprofin said that one of the “most notable” features of its project is its proposed cost efficiency model.

The bank’s internal modeling suggests that using a nano-scale modular architecture in the campuses could reduce capital expenditure to an estimated $4m to $8m per megawatt.

Conventional hyperscale data center construction in 2026 typically ranges between $10m and $12m per megawatt, according to a report by consulting firm EY.

“This efficiency gap is attributed to a combination of structural innovations, including prefabricated modular deployment systems, advanced cooling architecture, and high-efficiency energy integration at site level,” Asprofin said.

The bank added that this cost efficiency model would differentiate its program from large-scale regional initiatives such as the Stargate UAE project - a massive $100bn AI campus in Abu Dhabi backed by major tech companies.

Asprofin’s proposal was developed with the global IT consulting firm IDC Technologies and was presented for preliminary review to Digital Dubai, the government authority responsible for the emirate’s digital and data strategies.

The plan is still in its feasibility stage.

The UAE data center construction market is valued at $3.5bn. The data center map lists 57 facilities in the country with more in development. Major tech companies like Microsoft and AWS operate cloud data center regions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Market growth is driven by an increasing demand for cloud services, digital transformation initiatives, and the rise of big data analytics. Additionally, Dubai is connected via the FOG submarine cable to Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and Al Fujairah is connected to many of the primary cables in the region.

The UAE government has implemented a comprehensive strategy requiring all new data centers to adhere to stringent energy efficiency and sustainability standards.

Learn more about the data center market in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East, and meet with other executives and experts in the region, at the DCN Riyadh event next year.