Human Intelligence, a PIF-backed company specializing in integrated AI capabilities, and Saudi Arabia’s DataVolt, a developer and operator of sustainable digital infrastructure, have officially commenced construction of an AI-ready data center in Oxagon, NEOM’s advanced industrial city. The first phase will deliver up to 100 megawatts (MW) of capacity, forming part of a larger complex planned for 360 MW, with an overall projected capacity of 1.5 gigawatts (GW).
Groundbreaking at LEAP 2026
The announcement was made during the LEAP 2026 conference, where the two companies revealed an expanded partnership to develop the project located in Oxagon on the Red Sea coast. This milestone moves the project from the planning stage to actual execution.
First 100MW to Enter Service in 2028
The data center is a key component of the first 360MW phase of the AI-focused data center complex that DataVolt plans to develop in Oxagon. The facility is designed to provide high-density digital infrastructure capable of meeting the growing demand for computing power required by advanced AI applications. It is expected to rely on renewable energy sources, innovative cooling technologies, and high-performance computing clusters to support large-scale AI and cloud computing workloads. The initial 100MW of capacity is scheduled to enter service in 2028.
Partnership Combining AI and Infrastructure
The project brings together Human Intelligence’s capabilities across various layers of the AI ecosystem and DataVolt’s expertise in developing, financing, and operating large-scale digital infrastructure projects.
Tariq Amin, CEO of Human Intelligence, emphasized that AI ambitions gain real meaning only when translated into infrastructure, computing capabilities, and operational capacity that customers can utilize. He noted that this is the core of the partnership with DataVolt. Amin added that construction has already begun and that the 100MW project is progressing with the speed and scale needed to support the next phase of AI development.
DataVolt Commences First Phase Execution
The construction work also marks the actual start of DataVolt’s planned 360MW first phase in Oxagon, within the larger 1.5GW complex. Rajit Nanda, CEO of DataVolt, stated that developing AI infrastructure of this scale requires more than capital and operational capabilities, pointing to the need for disciplined execution spanning energy, engineering, construction, and operations. He explained that the partnership with Human Intelligence combines the integrated capabilities of both companies with a focus on delivering world-class digital infrastructure in the Kingdom. Nanda described the groundbreaking in Oxagon as a significant milestone in executing the first phase and building the infrastructure necessary to provide AI computing capacity at scale.
Oxagon's Role in Supporting AI Computing Expansion
The two companies expect the project to benefit from Oxagon’s industrial advantages, including designated industrial lands, widely available energy resources, and low-latency connectivity via submarine cable networks linking the region to Europe and Africa. These attributes are increasingly important for AI infrastructure projects, given the growing significance of energy access, development speed, network connectivity, and operational efficiency in computing economics.
Engineer Ayman AlMadifer, Managing Director and CEO of NEOM, said the groundbreaking demonstrates the evolution of the industrial ecosystem being built in Oxagon. He added that providing energy, land, and network connectivity has become a fundamental factor in AI economics, and that Oxagon is leveraging these elements to offer competitive value to companies developing infrastructure for the next generation of AI technologies.
Responding to Growing Global Demand
The project comes amid accelerating global demand for AI infrastructure, accompanied by increasing needs for energy, high-density data centers, and advanced computing systems. The partnership between Human Intelligence and DataVolt aims to respond to this demand by combining AI capabilities with large-scale infrastructure development, offering an integrated path from data center capacity to ready-to-deploy AI computing power. The 100MW project represents a key milestone in this partnership and a practical step toward building large-scale AI infrastructure in Oxagon.
