The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) has entered a strategic joint venture with VOLT UAE to construct a state-of-the-art, AI-ready data centre within Dubai Silicon Oasis. Announced on April 25, 2026, the partnership aims to bolster the emirate’s digital economy by delivering high-performance infrastructure capable of supporting advanced artificial intelligence applications. The project is supported by Schneider Electric, which will provide essential smart infrastructure technology.
A Strategic Milestone for the Digital Economy
The new facility represents a significant step in DIEZ’s strategy to attract high-quality investments in future-focused sectors. By leveraging the integrated ecosystem of Dubai Silicon Oasis, the development seeks to reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for digital innovation. The announcement was formalized during a signing ceremony attended by key stakeholders, including His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ, and Han de Groot, CEO of VOLT.
Spanning a massive 60,000 square meters, the development is designed to set a new benchmark for reliability and robustness in the region. The project will unfold in two distinct phases. The initial phase will deliver 29 megawatts of readily available capacity, followed by a second phase adding a substantial 100 megawatts of committed power. This scalable approach ensures the facility can meet the accelerating demand for advanced computing solutions.
Engineering the Future of AI
Unlike traditional data storage facilities, this joint venture envisions an “AI factory”—a facility where energy is transformed into intelligence. The infrastructure will feature reinforced architecture and redundant systems engineered for exceptional resilience, ensuring uninterrupted operations even under the most demanding conditions.
Han de Groot, CEO of VOLT, emphasized the critical nature of this project, noting that compute power is becoming a vital production factor for modern economies.
“This project is designed as a potential AI factory… supporting advanced AI applications and digital workloads for the region,” de Groot said. “We are confident this project will add substantial long-term value to Dubai’s digital ecosystem.”
Collaboration and Sovereign Capability
A key component of the project’s success is the collaboration with Schneider Electric. Headquartered in Dubai Silicon Oasis, the energy management giant will deliver end-to-end infrastructure solutions, ranging from power systems to advanced liquid cooling technologies. Amel Chadli, President of the Gulf Cluster at Schneider Electric, described the initiative as a “defining moment” for the UAE’s digital future, highlighting the company’s role in deploying high-density AI infrastructure efficiently and sustainably.
The partnership aligns closely with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and supports the recently launched AED 11 billion ‘District IO’ project. H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni highlighted that this initiative reaffirms the resilience of Dubai’s economic model and the confidence global investors place in the emirate’s business environment.
Looking Ahead
As Dubai continues to consolidate its status as a leader in the global digital economy, the DIEZ-VOLT partnership provides the essential backbone for sovereign AI capabilities. By securing the necessary infrastructure for developing, training, and deploying AI at scale, Dubai is positioning itself at the forefront of the technological revolution. For tech enterprises and investors, the message is clear: the infrastructure required for the next wave of digital growth is being built today.