The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) has announced the signing of a joint venture agreement with Volt UAE, the regional platform established by Dutch data centre and AI factory developer Volt.
The partnership will see the development of an advanced, AI-ready data centre spanning up to 60,000 sq m in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), DIEZ’s specialised economic zone for knowledge and innovation, further strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for the digital economy.
The data centre project aligns with DSO’s expansion plans, particularly the AED11 billion ($3 billion) District IO project.
Under the agreement, DIEZ will provide land and core infrastructure, while Volt UAE will develop, finance, and lead construction of the data centre facilities, as well as oversee design, execution, leasing, and operations in line with agreed requirements.
The facility will feature high-performance infrastructure engineered for exceptional resilience, uninterrupted operations, and long-term security under all conditions.
Designed with reinforced architecture, redundant systems, and hardened infrastructure, it ensures continuous availability even in the most demanding environments.
It will support advanced computing and artificial intelligence applications, strengthening the emirate’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem while setting a new benchmark for robustness and reliability in critical digital infrastructure.
The announcement was made during an official signing ceremony at DIEZ headquarters in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ; Han de Groot, CEO of Volt; Koenraad Crooijmans, Head of Capital Markets at Volt; and Amel Chadli, President, Gulf Cluster at Schneider Electric.
As part of the project, DIEZ and Volt UAE will collaborate with Schneider Electric, headquartered in Dubai Silicon Oasis, to deliver advanced electrical systems, power distribution, and smart data centre infrastructure to enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
The strategic DIEZ-Volt UAE partnership aligns with DIEZ’s continued efforts to enhance its digital infrastructure readiness and attract strategic investments in future-focused sectors across its economic zones. It also reflects Dubai’s broader vision to consolidate its position as a global hub for the digital economy.
The project will be developed within the integrated ecosystem of Dubai Silicon Oasis, supporting the growth of the data centre sector and addressing increasing demand for advanced computing solutions.
It is being implemented in two phases: an initial 29 MW readily available capacity, followed by an additional 100 MW of committed power.
Dr Al Zarooni said: "This strategic partnership comes at a pivotal time amid rapid global shifts, reaffirming the resilience of Dubai’s economic model and its strong investment appeal in future-focused sectors. It also reflects the value of leveraging specialised expertise in the development and operation of data centres."
"This step underscores the confidence of global investors in Dubai’s advanced business environment, supported by world-class digital infrastructure and agile economic policies," he noted.
On the deal, Groot said: "This partnership with DIEZ marks a significant strategic milestone in advancing our international expansion. Dubai offers world-class infrastructure, positioning it as a natural hub for the next wave of digital and AI-infrastructure driven growth."
"We are seeing an unprecedented acceleration in artificial intelligence, with the compute aspect becoming a critical production factor for economies. Volt addresses this with a full-stack AI compute platform designed to support sovereign AI capabilities, enabling nations and organisations to develop, train, and deploy AI securely, and at scale," he stated.
De Groot said: "This project is therefore more than a data centre: it is designed as a potential AI factory, a facility where energy is transformed into intelligence, supporting advanced AI applications and digital workloads for the region. At the same time, the infrastructure will be engineered for exceptional resilience, ultra-secure operations, and continuous availability, setting a new benchmark for mission-critical digital infrastructure."
"We are confident this project will add substantial long-term value to Dubai’s digital ecosystem, supported by an integrated and forward-looking business environment that fosters innovation and aligns with the rapidly evolving global AI-driven economy," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Chadli said: "What we are witnessing at DSO is nothing short of a defining moment for the UAE's digital future. DIEZ embodies a bold national vision, a testament to the UAE's unwavering commitment to leading the world's AI economy."
"And at the heart of that vision stands this landmark AI-ready data centre, the foundation upon which tomorrow's smart city will be built. At Schneider Electric, we are proud to be part of this transformational journey with DIEZ and Volt as their preferred energy technology partner," she stated.
"We deliver the industry’s most comprehensive end-to-end infrastructure solution for AI-ready data centres, from Grid to Chip and from Chip to Chiller, combining power systems, liquid cooling, monitoring and management software, and services to help customers deploy high-density AI infrastructure faster, more efficiently, sustainably, and with lower risk," she added.-TradeArabia News Service
