Khazna expects to build more 100MW-scale data centres
21 October 2024
Register for MEED's 14-day trial access
The 100MW artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced data centre being built in the UAE's northern emirate of Ajman is not the last for UAE-based data centre and cloud services provider Khazna Data Centres.
"In the near future, we will be announcing other projects on the same scale or larger than the Ajman data centre," Gregory Jasmin, the firm's senior director of business development strategy, tells MEED.
The executive says the 100MW data centre, once completed, makes Khazna Data Centres "by far the largest data centre developer and operator in the entire Gulf region".
MEED previously reported that London-headquartered construction firm Laing O'Rourke had started construction on Khazna's latest data centre project in Ajman.
The new facility is expected to cost about AED1bn ($272m) and be completed within 15 months. Etihad Water & Electricity Company will supply power to the Ajman data centre.
Jasmin says the company exceeded its capacity target of 300MW by the end of 2023, up from 126MW in early 2022.
The firm has grown significantly since 2020, when it had a capacity of just 40MW, following the 2021 merger of the data centre divisions of Khazna’s parent firm G42 and telecommunications firm e&, previously known as Etisalat.
The company is also expanding its presence in other markets, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kenya.
"By the end of this year and the start of Q1 next year, we will be in many [more] geographies," says Jasmin.
Asked about the top driver for the company's future expansion, the executive says: "AI, AI and more AI."
He adds: "This is based on what the [UAE] leadership wants, which is to have the UAE at the forefront of the AI revolution and with G42, we sit at the core of the infrastructure that is needed for AI.
"For many years, we were always looking to the West to see what we can do, but now we want to take the lead in building the infrastructure that is powering AI here in the UAE as well as globally," says Jasmin.
As things stand, the government's AI push has increased interest in building data centre capacity, if not changed the landscape entirely for Khazna.
In June 2022, the firm's CEO Hassan Al-Naqbi told MEED that increased digitalisation by government entities and enterprises, as well as the adoption of school- and work-from-home practices, mean that the Middle East region will continue to drive double-digit growth in demand for data centre services.
In addition, the general mandate for regional governments to retain data within their national jurisdictions is also a major driver for the growth of data centre services in the region, which was nearly double the global average at the time.
Green data centre
Known for being a major energy consumer, there is a growing awareness of how data centres can be made more sustainable or greener, particularly due to the cooling requirements, which are especially crucial in the Gulf region.
Jasmin says in some countries, such as Kenya, a 100% renewable energy powered data centre is now feasible.
Khazna's facility in Kenya is powered by 100% renewable geothermal energy and can go from a scale of 100MW up to 1GW, because "we are located in a green energy park that is fed by renewable energy currently at 900MW, but with the potential to grow to up to 10GW".
Related reads:
Exclusive from Meed
-
Saudi Arabia seeks firms for six renewable projects
17 September 2025
-
Qatar tenders Smaisma infrastructure contract
17 September 2025
-
Dragon Oil to boost exploration and production in Egypt
17 September 2025
-
Construction launched for final major projects of Iraq’s GGIP
17 September 2025
-
Saudi drilling firm raises acquisition offer for Dubai rival
16 September 2025
All of this is only 1% of what MEED.com has to offer
Subscribe now and unlock all the 153,671 articles on MEED.com
- All the latest news, data, and market intelligence across MENA at your fingerprints
- First-hand updates and inside information on projects, clients and competitors that matter to you
- 20 years' archive of information, data, and news for you to access at your convenience
- Strategize to succeed and minimise risks with timely analysis of current and future market trends

Related Articles
-
Saudi Arabia seeks firms for six renewable projects
17 September 2025
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Saudi Arabia's principal buyer, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), has invited interested companies to prequalify for the contracts to develop and operate solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind independent power producer (IPP) projects with a total combined capacity of 5,300MW.
The following schemes comprise round seven of the kingdom's National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP):
- 1,400MW Tabjal 2 solar PV IPP (Tabrijal, Al-Jouf Province)
- 600MW Mawqqaq solar PV IPP (Mawqqaq, Hail Province)
- 600MW Tathleeth solar PV IPP (Tathleeth, Aseer Province)
- 500MW South Al-Ula solar PV IPP (Al-Ula, Medina Province)
- 1,300MW Bilgah wind IPP (Bilgah, Medina Province)
- 900MW Shagran wind IPP (Shagran, Medina Province)
These projects are part of the NREP, which aims to achieve an optimal energy mix and supply 50% of the kingdom's electricity from renewable energy by 2030.
Earlier rounds under the NREP have already put in place large capacities.
Round six solicited around 4,500MW of solar and wind projects:
- 1,500MW Dawadmi wind IPP (Riyadh)
- 1,400MW Najran solar PV IPP (Najran)
- 600MW Samtah solar PV IPP (Jizan)
- 600MW Al-Darb solar PV IPP (Jizan)
- 400MW Al-Sufun solar PV IPP (Hail)
In April, MEED reported that prequalified developers were forming teams to bid for the contracts to develop solar farms under the sixth round of the NREP.
A separate set of bidders were prequalified for the 1,500MW Dawadmi wind farm, with contracts due to be awarded before the end of the year.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14684103/main3708.jpg -
Qatar tenders Smaisma infrastructure contract
17 September 2025
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has tendered a contract inviting construction firms to bid for the remaining works on roads and infrastructure in the small seaside town of Smaisma.
The contract covers package two in the south area of Smaisma, located 52 kilometres (km) north of Hamad International airport.
The scope of work includes the completion of the remaining works and remedial works on three zones. Each zone is further divided into three sub-zones.
The scope also covers the remaining works on road C1017.
The contract duration is two years from the start of construction works.
The tender was floated on 15 September with a bid submission date of 28 October.
The latest notice follows the tendering for the construction of roads and infrastructure in Wadi Al-Banat North (Zone 70).
Market overview
After 2019, there was a consistent year-on-year decline in contract awards in Qatar’s construction and transport sectors. The total value of awards in that year was $13.5bn, but by 2023 it had fallen to just over $1.2bn.
In 2024, the value of project contract awards increased to $1.7bn, bucking the downward trend in the market in the preceding four years.
Of last year’s figure, the construction sector accounted for contract awards of over $1.2bn, while transport contract awards were about $200m.
There are strategic projects in the bidding phase in Qatar worth more than $5bn, and these are expected to provide renewed impetus to the construction and transportation market, presenting opportunities for contractors in the near term.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14682452/main.jpg -
Dragon Oil to boost exploration and production in Egypt
17 September 2025
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Dubai-based Dragon Oil has signed a deal with the state-owned national oil company Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), agreeing to increase exploration and production activities in the Gulf of Suez.
Under the terms of the agreement, Dragon Oil will make investments worth about $30m.
This will fund activities including a programme to drill at least two new wells in the East El-Hamd area.
Abdulkarim Ahmed Al-Mazmi, the acting chief executive of Dragon Oil, said: “The signing of this agreement reaffirms Dragon Oil’s commitment to strengthening its strategic presence in the Arab Republic of Egypt and supporting EGPC’s efforts to develop energy resources in the Gulf of Suez region, in line with the company’s vision for growth and sustainability.”
Dragon Oil is wholly owned by Emirates National Oil Company, which is fully owned by the Government of Dubai.
Al-Mamzi said that the new investments are part of Dragon Oil’s broader strategy to expand in regional markets and to strengthen its position in the oil and gas sector, in line with the directions of the government of the UAE, and in particular the Government of Dubai.
The agreement was signed at the EGPC headquarters in Cairo.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14680456/main.png -
Construction launched for final major projects of Iraq’s GGIP
17 September 2025
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Officials have announced the start of construction on Iraq’s Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) and the full field development of the Ratawi oil field, which is also known as the Artarwi field.
The two projects are the two last major contracts of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP).
The GGIP is led by France’s TotalEnergies, which is the operator and has a 45% stake in the project.
Its partners are Iraq’s state-owned Basra Oil Company, which has a 30% stake, and QatarEnergy, which has a 25% stake.
An event in Baghdad to mark the launch of the two projects was attended by senior officials including Patrick Pouyanne, the chairman and chief executive of TotalEnergies; and Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, who is Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, as well as the president and chief executive of QatarEnergy.
In a statement, TotalEnergies said: “All four parts (natural gas, solar, oil, water) of the GGIP are now in the execution phase.”
The CSSP will be built on Iraq's coast, near the town of Um Qasr. It will process and transport 5 million barrels a day (b/d) of seawater to the main oil fields in southern Iraq.
Treated seawater will be substituted for the freshwater currently taken from the Tigris, Euphrates and aquifers to maintain pressure in the oil wells.
The project is expected to help alleviate water stress in the region and free up to 250,000 cubic metres of freshwater a day for irrigation and local agriculture needs, according to TotalEnergies.
The Ratawi redevelopment was launched in September 2023. Phase one aims to increase production to 120,000 b/d of oil and is expected to come on stream by early 2026.
The launch of phase two, the full field development, will enable production to be increased to 210,000 b/d starting in 2028, with no routine flaring, according to TotalEnergies.
In a statement, it said that all 160,000 cubic feet a day (cf/d) of associated gas produced will be fully processed by the 300,000 cf/d Gas Midstream Project (GMP), the construction of which began in early 2025.
The GMP, which will also treat previously flared gas from two other fields in southern Iraq, will deliver processed gas into the national grid, where it will fuel power plants with a production capacity of approximately 1.5GW, providing electricity to 1.5 million Iraqi households.
An early production facility to process 50,000 cf/d of associated gas will start in early 2026, together with the Ratawi phase one oil production.
Pouyanne said: “We are delighted today to award the two final contracts of the GGIP, in particular the seawater treatment plant, which has been long awaited by the oil industry in Iraq.
“In less than two years since the GGIP effective date in August 2023, TotalEnergies and its partners have fully executed their commitment towards the people of Iraq and launched all projects included in the multi-energy GGIP project, the best showcase of TotalEnergies' transition strategy.
“All these projects will bring a significant contribution to the Iraq economy and employ during the construction phase 7,000 Iraqi nationals.
“Furthermore, I am proud to confirm that the first phase of the associated gas, oil and solar projects will start up as soon as early 2026.”
Turkiye’s Enka has signed a contract to develop a central processing facility at the Ratawi oil field as part of the second phase of the field’s development.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14680455/main.png -
Saudi drilling firm raises acquisition offer for Dubai rival
16 September 2025
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Saudi Arabia-based ADES International Holding has increased its offer to buy Dubai-based, Oslo-listed rival Shelf Drilling to 18.50 Norwegian Krone ($1.88) per share, representing a 6% increase in the acquisition’s enterprise value.
The offer was revised from an earlier deal of $1.42 per share or a total of $379.33m.
ADES International Holding, a subsidiary of ADES Holding Company, signed a transaction agreement to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Shelf Drilling through a cash merger, with ADES International Cayman (BidCo) also participating in the proposed merger.
According to a joint statement, irrevocable commitments have now been provided by additional shareholders, including China Merchants, Anchorage Capital Group and Magallanes Value Investors, which, combined with ADES’ 17.9% stake in Shelf Drilling, represent 53.4% of the outstanding shares in the company.
ADES International Holding raised its offer for Shelf Drilling after reassessing the company’s current market performance and revising its estimated annual cost synergies upwards by $10m, bringing the total to $50m-$60m.
All other terms of the merger remain unchanged, along with the transaction timetable, with closing expected to occur in the last quarter of the year.
Shelf Drilling is incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with its corporate headquarters in Dubai.
In April this year, ADES International Holding secured a 10-year extension for one of its standard offshore jack-up rigs from Saudi Aramco, valued at approximately $290m.
The contract for the offshore jack-up marks the re-entry of ADES International Holding into the Saudi offshore oil and gas market. The rig was among six jack-ups whose charters were suspended by Aramco last April.
ADES International Holding has secured deployments for three of those jack-ups in Qatar, Thailand and Egypt, while the fourth was recently redeployed to Thailand.
ADES International Holding also said it has increased its footprint since the start of 2025 by securing an offshore drilling job off the coast of Nigeria, marking its entry into West Africa.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14676037/main0952.jpg