HUMAIN and DataVolt break ground on 100MW AI data center at NEOM

Riyadh — At LEAP 2026, HUMAIN and DataVolt launched construction on a 100MW artificial intelligence data center at Oxagon, NEOM. This facility forms the 360MW first phase of a planned 1.5GW AI data center campus. The initial 100MW is anticipated to be available in 2028. The development represents a significant expansion of regional infrastructure designed to handle the complex requirements of modern artificial intelligence workloads. By initiating construction on this phase, the partnership establishes a tangible timeline for the deployment of high-density compute resources within Saudi Arabia. The scale of the overall 1.5GW plan underscores a substantial long-term investment in building the physical foundation necessary for an advanced digital economy. The announcement, made during the LEAP 2026 technology conference in Riyadh, outlines a project designed from the ground up to support advanced AI models and their intensive processing needs. The facility will integrate renewable energy sources and innovative cooling technologies, directly addressing the high power consumption and thermal management challenges typical of modern AI hardware deployments. This approach reflects an industry-wide shift toward more sustainable infrastructure practices in the face of escalating compute demands. The partnership effectively combines HUMAIN's full-stack software and AI capabilities with DataVolt's established focus on sustainable digital infrastructure development. This convergence of software expertise and physical infrastructure planning is intended to create a cohesive environment for artificial intelligence operations. This development places a critical, high-density compute resource directly within Saudi Arabia, aligning closely with the country's broader digital economy and technological diversification goals. The sheer scale of the planned 1.5GW campus indicates a strategic intent to secure a significant portion of the global market for AI processing capacity. By targeting a 2028 operational date for the first 100MW, the companies have established a clear timeline for the initial delivery of this infrastructure. The selection of Oxagon, NEOM's advanced manufacturing and innovation city, provides specific and material advantages for the execution of this project. The location offers pre-zoned industrial land, which can significantly streamline the development and construction process by reducing administrative friction. Furthermore, the site provides direct access to necessary energy resources and critical subsea cable connectivity, both of which are essential for the operation and global integration of a large-scale data center. The availability of these foundational elements at Oxagon reduces some of the traditional barriers associated with deploying high-capacity digital infrastructure. The initiative involves key executives from the participating organizations, highlighting the strategic importance placed on the project. Tareq Amin serves as the Chief Executive Officer of HUMAIN, bringing experience in telecommunications and digital infrastructure to the partnership. Rajit Nanda, the Chief Executive Officer of DataVolt, leads the firm's efforts in developing sustainable data center solutions. Aiman Al-Mudaifer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEOM, is also a central figure in the project, representing the host ecosystem. Their involvement underscores the high-level coordination required across different entities to execute a facility of this magnitude within the complex NEOM development environment. The integration of the data center into Oxagon aligns directly with the city's stated focus on advanced and clean industries. The availability of pre-zoned land and existing infrastructure planning at NEOM is intended to support the accelerated deployment of the facility. The deployment of a 100MW AI-specific data center, with formalized plans to expand to 1.5GW, represents a substantial addition to the regional technology landscape and the broader Middle East and North Africa market. This specialized infrastructure is essential for organizations requiring localized, high-performance computing to train and deploy advanced artificial intelligence models. The facility's capacity will support various sectors, including telecommunications, finance, and logistics, which increasingly rely on intensive data processing and machine learning applications. By providing this infrastructure locally, the project reduces the region's reliance on external compute resources and enhances data sovereignty. The phased approach, beginning with a 360MW first phase and an initial 100MW deployment, allows for measured and controlled scaling. This strategy enables the partners to establish operational protocols, optimize power delivery, and thoroughly test specialized cooling systems before expanding to the full 1.5GW capacity. The integration of renewable energy and specialized cooling is particularly relevant given the