Abu Dhabi and Dubai now lead the world’s emerging data center markets, taking first and second place in Cushman & Wakefield’s 2025 Global Data Center Market Comparison.
Their rise reflects a deliberate convergence of infrastructure planning, policy execution, and tenant demand that is reshaping the regional, and increasingly global, data center map.
Power, Planning and Delivery
While many mature data center markets are contending with grid bottlenecks and long lead times, the UAE is accelerating. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, power infrastructure is being delivered with unusual speed and scale. DEWA connects commercial and industrial projects up to 150 kW within five days, and broader system coordination between DEWA, TRANSCO and TAQA includes three interconnections between the two emirates and a 1GW baseload renewables project being developed by Masdar and EWEC. TAQA alone plans to invest USD 10.9 billion in transmission and distribution upgrades.
This infrastructure push is timely. Across global markets, access to power is now the primary constraint on new development. The UAE’s ability to de-risk power delivery, both in terms of availability and predictability, is a key part of its competitive advantage.
Infrastructure and Cost Competitiveness
Abu Dhabi now ranks among the top three markets globally for fiber connectivity, while both emirates are in the top ten for lowest power costs. A zero-VAT regime for most data center activities and fast-track approvals add to their appeal. Dubai ranks highest among EMEA’s emerging markets for land availability; critical for operators seeking to develop phased, large-scale campuses.
Combined, these fundamentals are supporting rapid expansion. The UAE already has more than 250 MW of live capacity online, with a further 500 MW in the pipeline. Abu Dhabi accounts for around 40% of upcoming supply, including 150 MW due to complete by end-2025. Over $1.5 billion in additional investment is expected by 2027, much of it underpinned by demand from cloud and AI workloads.
Anchor Tenants and Ecosystem Maturity
Hyperscalers are at the centre of this demand. Microsoft is the lead tenant in a $540 million du-developed facility in Dubai, while in Abu Dhabi, OpenAI and Oracle are anchor tenants for the 5 GW Stargate UAE project. Amazon Web Services, Alibaba, and Equinix are expanding their presence, while Khazna Data Centers, the UAE’s dominant operator, now holds more than half the market share. Enterprise demand is also materialising, with Emirates Group relocating its infrastructure to a solar-powered site at the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park.
Cloud region expansions, sovereign tech mandates, and rising AI workloads are all contributing to a step-change in occupier requirements. Importantly, this is now being met by an ecosystem that includes local operators, global hyperscalers, specialist developers, and increasingly aligned capital.
Capital Alignment and Strategic Investment
Institutional capital is moving early. With global hyperscaler capex expected to exceed $320 billion this year, investors are prioritising markets where power, land, and infrastructure can be delivered at scale. The UAE is one of the few that currently ticks all three boxes.
Forecasts value the UAE data center market at USD 1.26 billion in 2024, rising to over USD 3.3 billion by 2030. Growth is being driven by a combination of local and international capital. ADQ has partnered with Energy Capital Partners on a $25 billion investment platform focused on power for data centers, while MGX, Microsoft and BlackRock have formed a $30 billion consortium targeting AI infrastructure. Stargate UAE - a G42-led initiative with support from OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, and Cisco - will deliver 1 GW in its first phase, scaling to 5 GW by 2026. Meanwhile, Dubai’s du-Microsoft facility anchors a parallel stream of activity in the south.
Regional deployment is also rising. Sovereign funds across the Gulf invested $137 billion in 2023–24, with the UAE taking a lead share. M&A volumes in the sector are up 25% year-on-year, led by digital infrastructure and energy-linked platforms.
Execution Outlook
Speed is now a competitive edge. While global construction timelines for hyperscale facilities are often extended by 2–6 years due to power delays and component shortages, the UAE is moving faster. Stargate UAE, announced in May 2025, expects to deliver its first 1 GW by 2026 - a compressed timeline by global standards. Khazna’s 100 MW AI-optimised site in Ajman is also targeting delivery by 2026.
Supply chain challenges persist, particularly around transformers, GPUs and cooling systems. However, the UAE’s trade infrastructure, customs efficiency, and global supplier relationships are mitigating many of the global headwinds. Strategic partnerships such as Microsoft’s with G42 are accelerating procurement and development at scale.
This level of execution is reinforcing the UAE’s position not just as an alternative to mature hubs, but as a primary destination in its own right. With tenant demand locked in, capital aligned, and delivery risk comparatively low, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are now central to regional and, in many cases, global deployment strategies.
