The Cushman & Wakefield report highlights the rapid consolidation of the United Arab Emirates as a new global hub for digital infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been ranked as the top two emerging data center markets worldwide, according to the Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Data Center Market Comparison 2025 report. The publication places Abu Dhabi in first position and Dubai in second among 97 markets analyzed, emphasizing the growing influence of the UAE in global digital infrastructure investments.
The ranking is based on 20 critical variables, including energy availability, fiber optic connectivity, ongoing development plans, and land prices. The report states that these factors reflect the success of a coordinated national strategy in infrastructure and public policy, as well as a sustained increase in demand from global operators.
“There is a clear correlation between long-term infrastructure planning and current market performance,” said Edward Macura, Cushman & Wakefield Core’s national director in the UAE. “Abu Dhabi and Dubai have created the conditions to scale, and global operators are responding.”
Boom of hyperscalers and artificial intelligence
The UAE currently has over 250 MW of operational capacity, with another 500 MW actively in development. One flagship project is Stargate UAE in Abu Dhabi, backed by OpenAI, Oracle, and Nvidia, aiming for a final capacity of 5 GW. In Dubai, du and Microsoft are constructing a hyperscale data center valued at $540 million.
These initiatives are complemented by expansions of public cloud providers such as AWS, Alibaba, and Equinix, active in both emirates, while Khazna Data Centers leads the market with more than 59% share. Business activity is also increasing, as seen in Emirates Group’s move to a solar-powered facility at the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park.
Massive investment and timely delivery
The data center market in the UAE was valued at $1.26 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $3.33 billion by 2030, driven by growth in commercial properties and intensive data use. This development is supported by large-scale investment programs, including the $25 billion contributed by ADQ (Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company) and Energy Capital Partners in energy infrastructure, and the $30 billion project involving MGX, Microsoft, and BlackRock linked to artificial intelligence.
“Investment decisions are now based on track record rather than potential alone,” added Macura. “Developers are delivering on time, clients are booking in advance, and supporting infrastructure is being deployed concurrently. This consistency is attracting institutional capital.”
The Stargate UAE campus, announced in May 2025, expects to deliver its first gigawatt in 2026—a fast-paced schedule by global standards. Similarly, Khazna’s 100 MW facility in Ajman, focused on AI, is progressing toward phased deliveries in less than 24 months.
UAE, ready for the future
In an environment where AI workloads are continuously increasing and energy constraints are reshaping deployment strategies, the UAE presents a unique value proposition: scalable infrastructure, aligned public policies, and proven execution capacity.
“The interest we’re seeing is not fleeting,” Macura concluded. “Both operators and investors are thinking long-term. The UAE has reached a point where it offers both operational reliability and future growth potential: those are the markets that will lead over time.”