Saudi Data Center Investment Surges Toward $77B and 6.6GW Capacity
Saudi Arabia’s data center sector is surging, with market size projected to reach USD 3.90 billion by 2030, growing from USD 1.33 billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 19.64%. That figure represents the infrastructure value across active and planned facilities, not total capital commitments—because separately, announced investments from global and regional players already exceed $21 billion, with some company-level roadmaps climbing even higher.
One standout is Humain, the Saudi government’s newly launched AI company, which aims to deploy 6.6GW of data center capacity by 2034; a figure not representative of the entire country’s footprint, but still transformative for the Kingdom’s AI ambitions. This article unpacks how Saudi Arabia is blending infrastructure strategy, geopolitics, cloud innovation, and digital talent into one expansive roadmap for regional dominance.
Humain Targets 6.6GW and 7% of Global AI Compute
Backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Humain is driving a bold $77 billion infrastructure plan to reach 6.6GW of data center capacity by 2034. Starting with a 50MW facility equipped with 18,000 Nvidia GPUs, the company will scale to 500MW in phases and targets 1.9GW by 2030. Much of this will be developed within Saudi Arabia, including ten 200MW hyperscale sites planned for the Eastern Province.
According to CEO Tareq Amin, the investment is designed to help Saudi Arabia process 7% of global AI training and inference workloads, supported by strategic tech partnerships and national electricity subsidies. Humain is also launching a $10 billion venture fund to invest in AI startups worldwide, enhancing Saudi Arabia’s innovation reach.
Also Read: HUMAIN and $100B AI Push: Saudi Arabia’s Next Big Bet
Alfanar’s $1.4B Push for Sustainable Data Centers
Alfanar Global Development announced a $1.4 billion investment to build four data centers across Riyadh and Dammam. With a focus on scalability and green energy integration, these facilities aim to serve cloud computing and AI-driven solutions for both public and private sectors. Existing Alfanar projects support key agencies like the Saudi Red Crescent and the General Authority for Statistics, and this expansion marks a leap toward more sustainable infrastructure.
Tencent’s $150M Launch Adds to Saudi’s 300MW Backbone
Tencent Cloud committed $150 million to establish its first data center in Saudi Arabia, part of its $650 million global expansion. This aligns with the Kingdom’s expected 300MW total data center capacity by 2025, a figure that represents 86% of the Middle East’s total. Saudi Arabia now hosts around 58 data centers, supporting AI, smart cities, and e-commerce infrastructure—solidifying its strategic role in regional tech.
Geography, Subsidies & Events Like LEAP Drive Acceleration
The Kingdom’s competitive advantage stems from subsidized electricity, strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and a connectivity stack powered by submarine and inland cables. National initiatives like LEAP Riyadh 2025 and mega-projects like NEOM’s $5B AI campus are catalyzing a digital future. Key players like Groq, Aramco Digital, Alibaba Cloud, AMD, and Oracle are all scaling hyperscale compute in alignment with Vision 2030.
Outlook: Saudi Arabia’s Role in Global Digital Infrastructure
The Saudi Data Center Investment surge reflects more than just capital; it’s about building foundational infrastructure for the future of AI, cloud, and digital services. Between corporate vision and government backing, Saudi Arabia is not just racing to catch up—it’s carving out a leadership position in global compute power.
Also Read: AI's $130B Impact on Saudi Digital Economy Trends
