Hexagon: Saudi Arabia is building the world's largest government data center
In a historic step reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ambitions for global digital leadership, the foundation stone was laid today in Riyadh for the "Hexagon" data center, belonging to the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). This project represents an unprecedented leap forward in the technology sector, ranking as the world's largest Tier IV government data center, with a massive capacity of 480 megawatts, making it a cornerstone of the region's and the world's digital infrastructure.
A quantum leap in infrastructure and reliability
The Hexagon project, spanning over 30 million square feet, boasts the highest reliability rating from the global Uptime Institute. This Tier IV rating signifies that the center possesses a fully fault-tolerant infrastructure, ensuring 99.995% uptime. This level of readiness guarantees uninterrupted access to vital digital services, even under the most challenging operating conditions—a standard achieved by only a handful of centers worldwide. Furthermore, the design meets the international engineering standard TIA-942 and ISO/IEC 22237 certification, underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to the highest standards of digital quality and security.
Strategic context and ambitious vision
This project is not a product of mere chance; rather, it is a tangible embodiment of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, spearheaded by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Through these massive investments, the Kingdom aims to diversify its national income sources and reduce its reliance on oil by building a robust digital economy based on data and artificial intelligence. Within the framework of the National Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is working to transform the Kingdom into a global technology hub connecting three continents, leveraging its strategic geographic location to solidify its position as a key player in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Sustainability and green technologies
Beyond its massive size, Hexagon embodies the principles of environmental sustainability in the technology sector. The center was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council, relying on smart cooling solutions, direct liquid cooling technologies, and hybrid cooling systems that significantly reduce energy consumption and achieve the lowest utilization coefficient. SDAIA's data center strategy aims to reduce carbon emissions by 30,000 tons annually, demonstrating that technological advancement can go hand in hand with environmental responsibility.
Economic returns and developmental impact
Economically, Hexagon is expected to have a significant impact on the Kingdom's GDP. Official estimates indicate that the data center strategy led by SDAIA, of which this center is the first, will contribute over SAR 10 billion to the Kingdom's GDP. Furthermore, the project will generate annual savings of SAR 1.8 billion by improving the efficiency of government digital spending and consolidating data centers. The project will also serve as a platform for attracting foreign technology investment, providing a secure and reliable infrastructure for global companies seeking to expand in the MENA region.
