GCC - Data Centre Market Review 2025

The GCC data centre sector has officially transitioned from strategic planning to gigawatt-scale industrial execution, driven by sovereign AI mandates and an accelerating digital economy. Regional capacity is projected to triple by 2030, supported by mega-projects such as the UAE’s Stargate supercluster and Saudi Arabia’s massive AI infrastructure drive. However, the market is simultaneously navigating acute near-term supply deficits and a sub-2.4% vacancy rate in the UAE, largely due to global supply chain bottlenecks for advanced cooling and power infrastructure pushing key completion dates into late 2026. This environment has significantly strengthened the pricing power of landlords with energised, operational assets.

This review is essential reading for institutional investors, private equity firms, and infrastructure funds seeking a valuation-anchored understanding of the Gulf’s rapidly evolving digital real estate. It provides critical intelligence for global hyperscalers and colocation providers evaluating market entry, power availability, and sovereign compliance requirements across the UAE and broader GCC. Furthermore, real estate developers, government policymakers, and financial institutions will gain actionable insights into the intersection of AI-driven power density, renewable energy integration, and long-term capital allocation strategies

Readers can expect a comprehensive, data-led evaluation of the region's digital infrastructure, equipping decision-makers to navigate the complex interplay of growth, compliance, and capital allocation. The report offers detailed benchmarking of the UAE’s operational and pipeline capacity against global standards, alongside an analysis of emerging risks such as liquid cooling requirements, design obsolescence, and grid connection delays. Ultimately, the review serves as a strategic framework to underwrite investments, stress-test development plans, and support complex M&A due diligence within the high-growth, sovereign-aligned data centre asset class.