Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 18, 2025 - Saudi Telecom Company (STC), through its digital infrastructure subsidiary center3, has entered a strategic joint venture (JV) with Future Artificial Intelligence Co. (HUMAIN) to develop and operate next-generation AI-focused data centres in the Kingdom, marking a major step in Saudi Arabia’s push to become a global hub for artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 18 December 2025 outlines a plan to build advanced facilities capable of supporting a total of up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of AI workload capacity, with an initial deployment of up to 250 megawatts (MW) contingent on customer commitments. HUMAIN will hold a 51 percent stake in the joint venture, while STC, via center3, will own the remaining 49 percent.
The partnership combines center3’s extensive data center design, operations experience, and regional connectivity with HUMAIN’s full-stack AI mandate and strategic role backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Together, the JV aims to lay the infrastructure foundation necessary for high-capacity, low-latency computing environments tailored to support demanding artificial intelligence workloads, including training and deployment of large language models (LLMs) and other mission-critical applications.
In a statement reflecting the broader vision, STC Group CEO Olayan Alwetaid said the venture “reinforces our commitment to enabling the region’s digital future … creating the right foundation to strengthen the region’s capacity to host next-generation AI workloads.”
HUMAIN CEO Tareq Amin added that “AI at scale requires purpose-built compute, efficiency, and resilience … infrastructure capable of meeting the most demanding workloads,” while Fahad AlHajeri, CEO of center3, stressed the importance of transforming vision into operational capacity to meet rising demand.
The collaboration builds on previous engagements between center3 and HUMAIN, including an advanced connectivity agreement signed in October 2025 to support national AI ambitions.
The Saudi government’s Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Data and AI seek to position the Kingdom among the leading global destinations for AI research, development, and infrastructure. The new JV supports these goals by localizing advanced digital infrastructure, accelerating AI development, and enhancing the country’s broader digital economy.
As demand for AI computing power grows worldwide, the STC–HUMAIN partnership signals Saudi Arabia’s intent to scale robust, sovereign data centre capacity capable of supporting both regional and international tech ecosystems, laying the groundwork for future innovation and economic diversification beyond oil.
