Saudi Arabia’s artificial-intelligence champion HUMAIN has entered into a major partnership with Australian-headquartered AirTrunk, supported by global investor Blackstone, to build a landmark data-centre campus in Saudi Arabia, with initial investment set at US$3 billion.
Under the agreement HUMAIN will lead the Kingdom’s efforts in deploying large-scale AI-ready infrastructure, while AirTrunk and Blackstone bring operational expertise and capital capacity. HUMAIN’s Chief Executive Officer Tareq Amin said “Together with AirTrunk and Blackstone, HUMAIN is strengthening the technological infrastructure that underpins the Kingdom’s digital economy.” He added this partnership “marks a pivotal moment in creating scalable, secure, and sustainable data-centre capacity to support the rapid growth of AI and cloud computing in Saudi Arabia.”
Robin Khuda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of AirTrunk, described the collaboration as a means to “support Saudi Arabia to realize its vision of being a data- and AI-driven economy.” He also said the announcement “strengthens the AirTrunk data-centre platform as we deliver world-class digital infrastructure for the cloud and AI across the Asia Pacific and now the Middle East, which is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world.”
From Blackstone’s side, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Schwarzman stated that the firm continues “to bring scale and expertise across the AI ecosystem as the largest provider of data centres globally and a significant investor in related services and infrastructure.” He further remarked that the deal “reinforces Blackstone’s position as one of the world’s leading investors in digital infrastructure and marks a commitment to deepening our presence in the Middle East.”
The scope of the partnership covers end-to-end data-centre design, construction and operation. It also includes co-financing through both equity and debt and a joint go-to-market effort to attract hyperscaler platforms and enterprise clients. A key pillar of the deal is talent and capability development within Saudi Arabia, in line with the Kingdom’s ambition to build a globally competitive digital ecosystem.
For Saudi Arabia the move advances the goals outlined in Vision 2030, which mandates the development of a diversified economy and the creation of high-value digital-technology sectors. With HUMAIN as a PIF-owned platform, the agreement sends a signal that the Kingdom intends not just to host but to operate infrastructure at the highest global standards.
Sources indicate that the new campus will form part of a broader rollout of data-centre capacity by HUMAIN, which earlier this year broke ground on facilities in Riyadh and Dammam each expected to debut in early 2026. These initiatives aim to position Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for cloud, AI and hybrid computing infrastructure.
For industry observers the strategic value is clear. With cloud- and AI-driven workloads growing rapidly in the Middle East and beyond, securing world-class infrastructure unlocks economic, technological and geopolitical benefits. That Saudi Arabia is partnering directly with top-tier global operators on this level suggests the digital economy is moving to the front of national priority.
The coming years will test execution: launching the campus, attracting global hyperscalers and developing local talent will determine whether the vision turns into operational reality.
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