Samer Choucair, investment leader, confirmed that Saudi Arabia has successfully secured a leading position in the global data center map, noting that this sector is the backbone of the comprehensive digital transformation taking place in the Kingdom.
This came in conjunction with the announcement by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology that data centers in the Kingdom have grown sixfold since the launch of Vision 2030, with investments in this vital sector exceeding 16 billion SAR, and the number of operational centers currently surpassing 60, developed by more than 20 local and international companies.
Choucair explained that this rapid growth places Saudi Arabia among the leading countries regionally, driven by enormous demand for cloud computing, generative AI, and the Internet of Things.
He pointed out that data centers today are the key enabler for all digital services, ranging from e-government services and e-commerce to smart cities like Neom and big data analytics, stressing that they are a strategic necessity to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.
Choucair highlighted the figures that reflect Saudi Arabia’s leadership, as the Kingdom has witnessed a massive investment boom since 2016, including the announcement by Aramco in 2023 of its first world-class data center, while reports indicate that Riyadh is poised to become the data center capital of the Gulf and the Middle East.
Studies indicate that the Saudi data center market will reach $6.17 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 19.84%, which is above the global average of 11%-14%.
In the global comparison, Choucair noted that the world is in a fierce race driven by artificial intelligence. According to JLL’s 2026 report, global capacity is expected to double to 200 gigawatts by 2030, with investments reaching $3 trillion over the next five years.
While the United States dominates over 40% of the global market, with its major companies like Microsoft and Amazon investing hundreds of billions, China is working to double its computing capacity, and India and the UAE are moving rapidly, Saudi Arabia stands out as a stable and sustainable environment, thanks to its renewable energy resources and strategic geographic location that reduces response time for a billion users.
In his investment analysis, Choucair said, “As an investment leader tracking emerging markets, I see the Saudi data center sector as the most attractive global opportunity right now, for several key reasons, including the explosive demand for AI that has attracted giants like Microsoft and Oracle, strategic government support through tax incentives and the ideal regulatory environment, along with the availability of renewable energy, making operations more sustainable compared to Europe and America, which face challenges in energy supplies.”
Choucair identified several golden investment opportunities currently available, including direct investment in hyperscale data centers, companies specializing in cooling, cybersecurity, and energy management, digital real estate investment trusts (REITs), and cloud hosting partnerships with global companies.
He confirmed that investors entering this sector today will achieve exceptional returns over the next five years, especially with energy consumption in this field growing by 29% annually until 2030.
Choucair concluded by stating, “The achievement of 60 centers and the sector growing sixfold is just the beginning of a sustainable digital era that places Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global transformation, and I am ready to provide tailored analyses for investors looking to explore these opportunities in the Saudi and global markets.”