Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Khazna Data Centres has raised $2.62 billion in financing from ADCB and FAB to support expansion in MENA and global markets. With AI-ready facilities planned in the UAE and abroad, Khazna targets 1GW of capacity while doubling its role in the region’s growing data economy.
Madari Space, an Abu Dhabi startup, will launch its first orbital data centre mission in Q3 2026 with UAE and UN partners. Positioned as a sustainable alternative to Earth-based data centres, the initiative aims to serve Earth observation operators, reduce carbon emissions, and prepare for the future cislunar economy.
Dubai has appointed Turner & Townsend to manage a major hyperscale data centre for du, targeting LEED Gold sustainability. In Oman, Ooredoo has launched a combined data centre and submarine cable landing station in Salalah, set to become a key hub for global connectivity and cloud expansion.
Ooredoo’s robust H1 2025 financials and strategic investments across data centres, fintech, tower assets, and subsea cables position it as a regional digital transformation leader. The Group continues expanding 5G and AI services while maintaining strong profitability and customer growth.
Alibaba Cloud is expanding its Southeast Asia infrastructure with a third Malaysian data centre and a second Philippine facility set for late 2025. Complemented by an AI Competency Centre in Singapore, this buildout supports rising regional demand amid a global $52.7 billion cloud network investment.
du has secured a $544 million deal with Microsoft to build a hyperscale data centre in the UAE, aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure and supporting enterprise cloud computing. This move aligns with du’s strategic push to position the UAE as a global hub for AI and digital innovation.
Ncell has become the first Nepali company to be officially certified as both a Data Centre and Cloud Service Provider in Nepal. This milestone follows Ncell’s successful enrollment under the newly introduced Data Centre and Cloud Services (Operation and Management) Directives 2025, marking a significant step in Nepal’s ICT development.
du Tech has announced its headline sponsorship of the DCD Connect MENA event, set for April 15-16. This partnership highlights du Tech’s role in advancing data centre innovation with AI-enabled, liquid cooling solutions. The event will bring together industry leaders to discuss the future of digital infrastructure.
The IEA reports that data centre electricity consumption will more than double by 2030, primarily driven by AI. This surge in energy demand, alongside opportunities for efficiency improvements, could increase global energy consumption by data centres to 3%, significantly impacting carbon emissions, with companies turning to nuclear and renewable energy.
iXAfrica has launched the first phase of its NBOX1 hyperscale data centre in Nairobi, featuring 4.5MW of IT capacity. The facility is optimized for AI-driven workloads and includes a partnership with KIXP to reduce latency and costs. It’s part of iXAfrica’s broader expansion to support cloud and digital growth.