Dubai authority partners with Volt for AI-ready data centre

Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) is partnering with Dutch AI data centre developer Volt to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data centre in Dubai Silicon Oasis.

The data centre campus will cover up to 60,000 square metres and will be developed in two phases. 

The initial phase includes 29 megawatts (MW) of readily available capacity, followed by an additional 100MW of committed power, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement.

The data centre will be developed by a joint venture between the Dubai government-owned free zone authority and Volt UAE, aimed at boosting Dubai’s position as a global hub for the digital economy.

DIEZ will provide land and core infrastructure, while Volt UAE will develop, finance and lead construction of the data centre facilities. It will also oversee design, execution, leasing, and operations of the data centre.

The two companies will collaborate with Schneider Electric, headquartered in Dubai Silicon Oasis, on electrical systems, power distribution, and smart data centre infrastructure to enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.  

The project’s cost and completion timeline were not disclosed.

The data centre project aligns with Dubai Silicon Oasis’s expansion plans, particularly the AED11 billion ($3 billion) “District IO” project, Mohammed Al Zarooni, executive chairman of DIEZ, said.

In January, the Dubai government allocated AED12.8 billion to expand Dubai Silicon Oasis, positioning the emirate as an international hub for innovation and advanced technology.  

DIEZ, which was established in 2021, manages three free zones: Dubai Airport Free Zone, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity.

Further reading:

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• Concerns over data centre security after AWS incident
• Inside the UAE’s test of digital resilience