UAE data centre market to be worth over $3.3 billion by 2030

The UAE’s data centre market is predicted to surpass a value of $3.3 billion (£2.5 billion) by 2030 due to surging AI adoption, the Emirates News Agency – WAM reported on October 19th.

According to a Research and Markets report, the UAE’s data centre market was worth around $1.3 billion (£1 billion) last year and the country is reportedly seeing a rise in data centre and cloud infrastructure projects.

Chief executive of du, a telecom operator in the UAE, Fahad Al Hassawi, said the company invests extensively in digital infrastructure and national data centres to boost the UAE’s digital economy and data sovereignty.

It was reported on October 16th, that Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba’s cloud business launched its second data centre in Dubai. Alibaba Cloud said in a statement that the launch was part of its pledge to invest $54 billion (£40 billion) in a three-year period. Alibaba Cloud launched its first unit nine years ago.

Alibaba Cloud International’s vice president and general manager of the Middle East, Turkey and Middle Asia for Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, Eric Wan, claimed the UAE’s open market makes it a good choice for bringing in major investments in cloud infrastructure and AI.

Meanwhile, Cybersecurity chief of the UAE Mohamed Al Kuwaiti stated AI is “a new oil” for the UAE at the World Economic Forum’s annual meetings of global future councils and cybersecurity.

AI integration is also being adopted by Tajmee’e, Tadweer Group’s waste collection subsidiary, in an attempt to boost waste management efficiency in Abu Dhabi.

Infrastructure Intelligence company EchoTwinAI will install AI software on Tajmee’e vehicles to identify different waste management issues, such as bin overflow, sand build-up and unauthorised dumping.