Hexagon Data Center
Status: Under Construction (Contractor Appointed Jan 2026) | Location: Riyadh Metropolitan Area
Project Overview
The Hexagon Data Center is a monumental leap in mission-critical infrastructure, designed to handle the massive compute requirements of a modern AI-driven state. Spanning an unprecedented 30 million square feet, the facility is not just a storage hub but a massive "AI engine" for the Saudi government.
The project represents a shift toward energy autonomy in the sector. To bypass the global challenge of grid constraints, the Hexagon facility is being built with a "Green-First" philosophy, integrating massive on-site renewable energy sources and achieving LEED Gold certification. Technically, it is a pioneer in thermal management, utilizing a hybrid cooling architecture that combines direct-to-chip liquid cooling for high-density AI racks with high-efficiency smart air cooling for traditional workloads.
By achieving a target PUE of 1.2, the project aims to set a new global benchmark for mega-scale efficiency. It serves as the primary backbone for the Kingdom’s next-generation government services, including smart city management, national security analytics, and sovereign AI model training.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Hexagon Data Center |
| Location | Riyadh Metropolitan Area |
| Status | Under Construction (Contractor Appointed Jan 2026) |
| Commissioning | Phase 1: 2027 (Expected) |
| Total IT Load | 480 MW |
| Total Capacity | 600 MW+ (Total Site Power) |
| Tier Level | Tier IV (Certified) |
| Project Type | Hyperscale / Government Sovereign Cloud |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Riyadh |
| Population | 7 to over 9 million |
| Urban Agglomeration | 7.9 to 9 million |
| City GDP | $550 billion by 2030 |
| Per Capita Income | $32,000 - $55,000 USD |
| City Tier | Tier 1 / Primary Data Center Hub (Riyadh) |
| Key Strengths | Capital city (Riyadh), massive government and enterprise demand, PIF backing, proximity to international connectivity (Jeddah/Dammam). |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | AlBawani / SDAIA |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT) |
| Construction Contractor | AlBawani (Main Contractor appointed Jan 7, 2026) |
| MEP Engineering | Global Technical Partners (Consortium) |
| Network Connectivity | Multiple Fiber Entry Points; STC & Mobily Interconnects |
| Power Infrastructure | Integrated Solar Farm + Dedicated Substation |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | NA |
| UPS Redundancy | 2N+1 |
| Cooling System | Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) & Smart Hybrid Systems |
| Connectivity | NA |
| PUE Target | 1.2 |
| Energy Mix | 40% Renewable (Targeting 100% by 2030) |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | Q4 2024 |
| Construction Start | January 2026 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | NA |
| Full Buildout | N/A |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | Estimated $5 Billion+ |
| Funding | Public Investment Fund (PIF) / Government Budget |