{
  "id": 17899114,
  "title": "EQT seeks joint AI and data centre deal with Saudi and UAE sovereign investors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/eqt-seeks-joint-ai-and-data-centre-deal-with-saudi-and-uae-sovereign",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-11-03T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/markets/2026/11/03/eqt-seeks-joint-ai-and-data-centre-deal-with-saudi-and-uae-sovereign-investors/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "EQT, Europe's largest private equity investment firm, is negotiating with sovereign investors from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to explore potential partnerships in artificial intelligence and infrastructure projects within the Gulf's top two economies, according to its global chair Jean Eric Salata. The company, with a $400 billion asset base, seeks to expand its presence by deploying capital in the region, home to some of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. Salata revealed that EQT is particularly focused on infrastructure and data centers, which aligns with the UAE's strategic goals. The firm plans to grow its AI infrastructure footprint in the Gulf through its portfolio firm EdgeConneX, which currently manages over 106 data centers across 25 countries. The UAE is spearheading AI development with a planned five-gigawatt AI campus in Abu Dhabi, complete with a massive 1GW data center. Saudi Arabia is also investing heavily in AI with its $100 billion Project Transcendence and the $1 trillion Public Investment Fund's Humain initiative. The Gulf states have collectively announced $120 billion in AI investments, equivalent to more than 5% of their GDP, presenting a substantial opportunity for global investors like EQT. The sheer demand for compute resources drives the need for power generation and data infrastructure development, creating a strong case for long-term capital investment. EQT recently opened an office in Abu Dhabi's ADGM, aiming to strengthen ties with other sovereign wealth funds and explore co-investment opportunities in the region.",
  "summary": "EQT , Europe’s biggest private markets investment firm, is in talks with sovereign investors in the UAE and Saudi Arabia to explore joint artificial intelligence and infrastructure investment opportunities in the Arab world’s top two economies, its global chair has said. The company with $400 billion in assets, which has been raising funds from Gulf investors for decades, is keen to now deploy…",
  "key_points": [
    "Firm targets infrastructure and data centers, aligning with UAE's strategic goals.",
    "UAE plans 5GW AI campus in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia invests $100B in Project Transcendence."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}