Status: Fully Operational / Active Phased Expansion | Location: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
Gulf Data Hub KAUST 1 is a premier high-density data center facility located within the campus of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, providing advanced digital infrastructure to support scientific innovation, research collaboration, and the Kingdom’s expanding digital economy. Delivering 12 MW of critical IT capacity, the facility is purpose-built to accommodate high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, academic research, cloud platforms, and enterprise workloads requiring secure, high-availability infrastructure. Designed with resilient N+1 and 2N power and cooling architectures, KAUST 1 ensures continuous operations, operational reliability, and maximum uptime for mission-critical research and commercial applications. The data center is engineered to support high-density computing environments, enabling researchers, hyperscale cloud providers, and technology organizations to deploy GPU-intensive workloads efficiently while maintaining optimal energy performance. Operating in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s sustainability objectives, the facility incorporates energy-efficient infrastructure and modern operational practices to reduce environmental impact while supporting long-term digital growth. Through direct integration with regional fiber networks and low-latency cloud express gateways, KAUST 1 provides seamless connectivity to national and international research institutions, hyperscale cloud platforms, enterprise customers, and global digital ecosystems. Combined with advanced physical security, continuous infrastructure monitoring, and scalable deployment capabilities, Gulf Data Hub KAUST 1 serves as a strategic platform for AI innovation, scientific discovery, cloud expansion, and digital transformation across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Gulf Data Hub KAUST 1 Data Center: Sustainable AI Hub in Saudi Arabia |
| Location | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia |
| Status | Fully Operational / Active Phased Expansion |
| Project Type | Purpose-Built High-Density Enterprise Colocation, Research AI & Cloud Gateway |
| Commissioning | 🔒 Subscriber Intelligence |
| Total IT Load | 🔒 Subscriber Intelligence |
| Total Capacity | 🔒 Subscriber Intelligence |
| Tier Level | 🔒 Subscriber Intelligence |
| Header | Details |
|---|---|
| City Name | Thuwal |
| Population | ~25,000–30,000 (estimated) |
| Urban Agglomeration | Jeddah Metropolitan Area (~5 million population) |
| Economic Profile | 🔒 Detailed city intelligence available to subscribers |
Developer, operator, infrastructure partners, contractors and engineering.
Power capacity, redundancy, cooling, connectivity, PUE and energy mix.
Announcement, construction start, go-live and full buildout.
Total project investment and funding intelligence.
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