Datavolt

P OW E R TO T H

Rajit Nanda, CEO

DataVolt was created by infrastructure leaders who understand energy is the real bottleneck in the digital age – we seek to bring power to the data, not the other way round.”

In today’s artificial intelligence (AI)driven world, digital infrastructure 2 | EME Outlook Issue 70

requires huge amounts of computing power, energy availability, and resilient cooling systems.

For Rajit Nanda, CEO, the natural next step was to work with Vision Invest, a Saudi Arabian development and investment holding company, to create DataVolt.

“A couple of years ago, we identified a new emerging thesis in infrastructure at the intersection between power, water, and data,” explains Nanda, whose professional journey has always revolved around building and scaling transformative infrastructure.

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H E DATA In the era of artificial intelligence, we find out how DataVolt is pioneering the next generation of data centres with CEO, Rajit Nanda Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Ryan Gray

DataVolt was subsequently established in 2023, building and operating data centres across the Middle East and Central Asia.

The company has since expanded rapidly, with five office locations worldwide, circa 175 staff members, and multiple projects under

development across Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.

“Our target customers range from hyperscalers and cloud providers to governments and AI innovators who trust us to deliver infrastructure capable of supporting tomorrow’s digital demands,” Nanda outlines.

AI-FIRST PHILOSOPHY The data centre industry sits at the forefront of the world’s digital transformation and is currently enjoying unprecedented growth.

In the Middle East, recent predictions suggest the sector will be worth USD$7.7 billion by 2030, driven EME Outlook Issue 70 | 3

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by a compound annual growth rate of 19.76 percent.

“The rise of AI, especially generative AI, has accelerated computing requirements far beyond traditional projections,” insights Nanda.

At the same time, Internet of Things (IoT) proliferation and 5G adoption are driving demand for ultra‑low‑latency, high‑density infrastructure.

This means modern data centres are no longer simple storage facilities – they are powerful, energy‑intensive ecosystems that must deliver both performance and sustainability.

“What excites me most is the shift towards AI‑first design principles. This is why we have in-housed our design and engineering team, giving us the flexibility to engineer our facilities to integrate new cooling and power technology as it matures,” Nanda explains.

“Everything from cooling architecture to campus layouts 4 | EME Outlook Issue 70

“ D ATAV O LT WA S C R E AT E D B Y INFRASTRUCTURE LEADERS WHO U N D E R S TA N D E N E R G Y I S T H E R E A L B O T T L E N E C K I N T H E D I G I TA L A G E – W E S E E K T O B R I N G P O W E R T O T H E D ATA , N O T T H E O T H E R WAY R O U N D ” – R A J I T N A N D A , C E O , D ATAV O LT

must be reimagined to support massive graphics processing unit (GPU) clusters, accelerated computing, and long‑term scalability.”

DataVolt’s AI-first philosophy means it is building data centres to be AI-ready from the outset.

Indeed, all of the company’s facilities have efficient designs and next-generation cooling systems that can cater to high-performance computing and high power density deployments.

“We are also partnering with global technology leaders, such as LG Electronics, Supermicro, and Saudi

Arabia’s AI champion, HUMAIN, and leveraging the expertise of our in-house engineering team to ensure we remain at the forefront of the ever-evolving technology landscape; we are working to futureproof our facilities for the AI applications of tomorrow,” affirms Nanda.

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HOW IS DATAVOLT POISED TO TRANSFORM THE DATA CENTRE LANDSCAPE? Rajit Nanda, CEO: “The data centre industry is evolving quickly, and DataVolt stands at the forefront of this revolution.

“We are working in key emerging markets to support the government’s digital transformation agenda and democratise computing power.

“In Saudi Arabia, our home country, we are working closely with partners in government, including the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Public Investment Fund (PIF)-backed HUMAIN, to support Vision 2030 and enable the Kingdom’s AI ambitions.

“We believe strongly that Saudi Arabia is well-placed to become the world’s next AI hub, which is why we are working to build AI-ready facilities that can cater to these high power density deployments in a sustainable way.

“By partnering with governments, technology pioneers, and industrial leaders, our aim is to leapfrog legacy infrastructure and adopt a greener, more resilient digital future.”

SHAPING THE DIGITAL FUTURE DataVolt’s flagship project is a 1.5-gigawatt (GW) AI factory campus in Oxagon, NEOM, an advanced industrial city located on the Red Sea.

Backed by an initial USD$5 billion investment, the campus is set for its first operational phase in 2028.

“We are particularly grateful to our partners at NEOM for their support

with this project, enabling us to access cost‑competitive renewable energy and benefit from fast-tracked approval processes to ensure speed to market,” Nanda acknowledges.

Located on the Red Sea, the site also offers proximity to Europe, Africa, and Asia through subsea cables, enabling DataVolt to deliver lowlatency and regional connectivity to customers.

Elsewhere, the company is supporting Uzbekistan’s push towards digital modernisation with a 12-megawatt (MW) data centre in Tashkent.

Construction of the data centre is already well underway, and it is set to be ready for service at the end of this year.

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WHAT DIFFERENTIATES DATAVOLT? “Again, we are grateful for the government support, including the Ministry for Digital Technologies, for enabling us to deliver this project at rapid pace and to international standards. We look forward to welcoming our first customers into the facility very soon,” highlights Nanda.

“By collaborating with governments, industrial leaders, and technology innovators, we are building ecosystems – not just data centres – that will shape the digital future.”

This year, DataVolt’s key focus is on progressing these projects and moving towards delivery.

SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE DataVolt’s mission is to build the digital backbone that will power the AI era and support emerging countries to realise their digital transformation.

At the core of this mission is delivering secure, scalable, and sustainable digital infrastructure that can handle the high-performance, mission-critical computing workloads needed for the AI era.

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• Sustainability by design – DataVolt prioritises environmentally responsible engineering, including renewable power integration and efficient cooling technologies tailored for hot climates.

• Integrated infrastructure ecosystem – Through its partners across Vision Invest, DataVolt can offer rapid deployment and superior operational reliability.

• AI‑first philosophy – Unlike traditional operators who adapt existing designs, DataVolt is building facilities specifically to support accelerated computing from day one. This AI‑centric approach positions the company ahead of the curve as AI demand accelerates globally.

POWERING THE FUTURE OF AI AND DATA CENTERS IN SAUDI ARABIA

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audi Arabia is entering a defining decade. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom is accelerating its transformation into a diversified, knowledge-based economy. At the center of this evolution lies a powerful enabler: digital infrastructure. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and hyperscale data centers is not only reshaping global industries it is also redefining Saudi Arabia’s position as an emerging global hub for AI and advanced technologies.

production, and lifecycle services, we are not only delivering resilient power solutions — we are helping build the sovereign, future-ready infrastructure that will enable Saudi Arabia’s digital leadership.

The future of data centers in the Kingdom will be driven by three imperatives: scale, speed, and sustainability. AI workloads demand unprecedented computing density, resilient power architecture, and uncompromising uptime. Hyperscale facilities require modular, prefabricated solutions that can be deployed rapidly while meeting global efficiency standards. At the same time, energy optimization and carbon reduction are no longer optional they are essential.

Prefabrication significantly reduces deployment timelines, a decisive advantage as the Kingdom accelerates to meet the growing demand for cloud and AI capacity.

This is where electrification and intelligent power management become mission-critical.

As a Saudi-based electrification manufacturer and provider of prefabricated, pre-engineered solutions, Eaton Arabia JV aims to support this transformation by contributing to the Kingdom’s evolving digital infrastructure. Data centers are, at their core, power infrastructure assets.

Without resilient, efficient, and digitally monitored electrical systems, AI cannot scale. Every rack, every server, and every algorithm depends on power continuity measured in milliseconds.

At Eaton Arabia JV, we align our strategy with the transformative forces of electrification and automation while firmly anchoring our commitment within Saudi Arabia. In alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, we believe the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global hub for AI and advanced industries must be powered by infrastructure that is built locally, operated locally, and continuously supported locally.

Through disciplined portfolio choices and a lean, agile organization, we are expanding our manufacturing and engineering capabilities inside the Kingdom. This “in-the-country, for-the-country” model strengthens national industrial capacity, enhances supply chain resilience, and provides a strategic advantage in navigating geopolitical risks. By localizing expertise,

Our role begins long before a facility becomes operational. Through localized manufacturing and engineering, we deliver modular electrical systems, integrated power distribution solutions, and packaged UPS systems designed specifically for high-density digital environments.

But localization is about more than speed; it is about strategic sovereignty.

Building data center infrastructure locally ensures supply chain resilience, compliance with Saudi standards, and alignment with national industrial development goals. By manufacturing and assembling solutions within the Kingdom, we contribute directly to job creation, knowledge transfer, and the development of advanced technical capabilities — key pillars supporting Vision 2030’s ambition to position Saudi Arabia as a global AI hub.

As the Kingdom attracts global technology investors, hyperscale’s, and AI innovators, power infrastructure must not become a bottleneck — it must be a competitive advantage. Eaton Arabia’s JV integrated approach, combining electrification manufacturing, prefabricated engineered modular solutions, and resilient UPS packaging, supports the development of digital infrastructure that is scalable, sustainable, and future-ready.

Eaton Arabia’s JV grid-to-chip approach optimizes both white and gray space in AI data centers through intelligent power distribution systems, backup power solutions, and advanced digital technologies designed to support high levels of operational continuity while maximizing energy efficiency. Eaton Arabia JV also provides consultative services and expert guidance to customers implementing high-performance AI technologies.

The Kingdom’s ambition to become a global center for artificial intelligence requires more than advanced algorithms and world-class talent. It requires robust, intelligent, and localized power ecosystems capable of supporting exponential growth.

Electrification is not merely a supporting function of the digital economy — it is its backbone.

At Eaton Arabia JV, we recognize the magnitude of this moment. We are committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s AI future, delivering resilient power infrastructure, accelerating localization, and supporting the realization of Vision 2030.

The future of AI in Saudi Arabia is expected to increasingly rely on localized power and infrastructure capabilities and be built to lead globally.

The future is now. The future is ours.

Eaton Arabia is a joint venture between Abunayyan Holding and Eaton Global.

Haytham Kamel - President & CEO

INFO@EATONARABIA.COM

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EATONARABIA.COM

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Most significantly, DataVolt wants to do this in a way that embeds sustainability in every aspect of design – from renewable energy sourcing to water‑efficient cooling systems and optimised electrical configurations – to minimise its environmental impact.

“For example, our 1.5 GW AI factory campus in Oxagon is intended to be the region’s first truly sustainable, net zero AI infrastructure ecosystem.

We will work to achieve this through dedicated renewable energy supply from the grid and green hydrogen as a secondary power source, alongside innovative seawater cooling,” Nanda reveals.

Saudi Arabia is already ahead of the game, as its renewable energy 8 | EME Outlook Issue 70

“ T H E R I S E O F A I , E S P E C I A L LY G E N E R AT I V E A I , H A S A C C E L E R AT E D C O M P U T I N G R E Q U I R E M E N T S FA R B E Y O N D TRADITIONAL PROJECTIONS” – R A J I T N A N D A , C E O , D ATAV O LT

capacity reached 6,551 MW in 2024.

The government’s Vision 2030, meanwhile, aims to transition the Kingdom to a sustainable future by generating 50 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2030.

“At DataVolt, we believe this, alongside Saudi Arabia’s land availability and good connectivity to Europe and Africa, positions it well to become a global AI infrastructure

hub,” affirms Nanda.

“As an operator, we also believe in the importance of building a partnership ecosystem. That means aligning with partners on green energy, technology tie-ups for liquid cooling, and advanced battery storage.

“We will continue to deepen our technology partnerships and further embed our sustainability

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commitments to ensure we can deliver on our promise to build the next green generation of data centre capacity. As always, we will continue to listen to our customers and support them to effectively navigate the everevolving landscape of the AI era,” he sets out.

SOURCING TALENT Another key challenge the data centre industry faces is around sourcing talent, with many operators struggling to attract and retain qualified staff.

In the age of AI, the data centre jobs of tomorrow may also look very different to those of today.

DataVolt is working to build the future talent pipeline by offering industry-integrated diplomas in key

skills such as electrical and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) engineering, as well as AI and data science.

“All our sponsored students receive guaranteed employment with DataVolt upon graduation, and our programmes incorporate hands-on, practical skills with real-world training to ensure they can hit the ground running from day one,” informs Nanda.

Crucially, the company is partnering with domestic education institutions and training local talent in the markets where it operates, ensuring the next generation directly benefits from their country’s ongoing digital transformation.

Across the Energy and Water

Academy in Saudi Arabia and Shirin Energy College in Uzbekistan, DataVolt is sponsoring a total of 120 students, with a further five in AI and data science to commence studies in the spring.

“We look forward to following their journeys as they grow into the industry’s future leaders,” Nanda proudly concludes.

Tel: +966 1122 99510 Marketing@data-volt.com

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Tel: +966 1122 99510 Marketing@data-volt.com https://data-volt.com/

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