{
  "id": 6109344,
  "title": "Middle East’s data center push endures under cloud of war",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/middle-easts-data-center-push-endures-under-cloud-of-war",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-07T06:41:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/09/07/tech/middle-east-data-center-war/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Persian Gulf countries are progressing with their ambitious plans for AI data centers, despite the ongoing conflict with Iran. The United Arab Emirates, in particular, has maintained construction on its Abu Dhabi AI campus, aiming for a capacity of five gigawatts, according to sources familiar with the project. The center has taken steps to safeguard workers amidst the intense war period.\n\nIn Saudi Arabia, the Public Investment Fund-backed firm Humain is set to raise $2.5 billion from global and local investors for data centers. The firm is advancing with a plan to develop over six gigawatts of computing capacity, asserting its schedule remains on track regardless of the war. Thus, despite the volatile geopolitical climate, the Middle East's tech sector is pressing on with its AI infrastructure developments.",
  "summary": "The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have invested heavily in technology and pitched their respective nations as reliable sources of abundant land and energy.",
  "key_points": [
    "UAE's Abu Dhabi AI campus construction continues amid Iran conflict",
    "Humain raises $2.5B for data centers in Saudi Arabia",
    "Tech sector in Middle East presses on with AI infrastructure"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Middle East's tech sector is forging ahead with AI infrastructure developments, treating the region's volatile geopolitical climate as a challenge to be managed rather than a barrier to investment.",
  "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."
}