The NEOM DataVolt data center has entered construction at Oxagon, Saudi Arabia, with the first phase now planned at 360MW.
NEOM and DataVolt announced the construction launch on August 31, 2026. The 360MW phase forms part of DataVolt’s wider 1.5GW AI data center campus planned for Oxagon.
The development builds on the agreement signed by NEOM and DataVolt in February 2025. That agreement committed an initial $5 billion investment toward the first phase of the campus, with operations initially targeted for 2028.
NEOM DataVolt data center construction moves into execution
Construction has now started on the 360MW first phase, moving the development beyond the pre-construction status reported previously.
The latest phase will provide high-density digital infrastructure for artificial intelligence and cloud computing workloads. It will incorporate renewable energy sources, advanced cooling technologies and high-performance computing systems.
The first 100MW is expected to become available in 2028. HUMAIN and DataVolt will jointly develop this 100MW portion within the 360MW first phase.
The wider campus will ultimately provide 1.5GW of planned AI data center capacity. However, the 1.5GW figure represents the full planned development rather than capacity currently under construction.
The latest announcement therefore updates the earlier project scope. The previous Construction Review Online report identified the first phase as 300MW and described the project as being in pre-development. The latest information confirms a 360MW first phase and construction underway.
HUMAIN joins DataVolt in 100MW Oxagon data center development alongside NEOM DataVolt data center
The HUMAIN partnership adds a major AI infrastructure component to the Oxagon development.
HUMAIN and DataVolt will jointly develop 100MW of the 360MW first phase. The facility will combine HUMAIN’s AI capabilities with DataVolt’s experience in developing, financing, delivering and operating digital infrastructure.
The facility will target next-generation accelerated computing requirements. It will also support AI and cloud workloads that require high-density computing capacity.
The companies expect the development to benefit from Oxagon’s industrial infrastructure. This includes pre-zoned industrial land, large-scale energy resources and subsea cable connectivity to Europe and Africa.
The HUMAIN partnership also links the Oxagon development with the company’s broader Saudi AI infrastructure program. HUMAIN recently expanded its agreement with Al Moammar Information Systems Company (MIS) for a separate 250MW AI-focused data center program in Saudi Arabia.
That HUMAIN MIS data center agreement increases the original scope from 50MW to 250MW through additional phased engineering, procurement and construction works. The development illustrates the wider expansion of AI-ready data center infrastructure across the Kingdom.
NEOM DataVolt data center targets 1.5GW at Oxagon
The $5 billion investment remains associated with the initial development agreement between NEOM and DataVolt. The 2025 agreement established a phased approach for developing the 1.5GW AI data center campus.
DataVolt will develop, finance, deliver and operate the digital infrastructure. NEOM, through Oxagon, is providing the development environment and infrastructure support for the facility.
The project is designed around renewable energy and energy-efficient infrastructure. Advanced cooling systems will support the high-density computing requirements of AI workloads.
Oxagon’s Red Sea location also provides access to subsea cable connectivity linking the region with Europe and Africa. According to NEOM, this connectivity will support low-latency computing requirements alongside the site’s energy and industrial infrastructure.
The construction launch gives the project a defined first-stage capacity of 360MW. Further development will be required to reach the full 1.5GW planned capacity.
The project also adds to Saudi Arabia’s growing pipeline of large-scale AI infrastructure. Together with the HUMAIN-MIS program, the Oxagon development demonstrates the increasing focus on building physical computing infrastructure alongside AI platforms and services.
The Kingdom is also home to a US$ 3 billion data center investment by AirTrunk and HUMAIN. Other than data center projects, NEOM Oxagon is taking shape as the industrial gas within the city taking shape.
Project Timeline
February 2025: NEOM and DataVolt sign agreement to develop 1.5 GW AI data center campus at Oxagon. Initial investment of US $5 billion and initial phase target of 2028 also set.
September 2025: DataVolt signs MoU with LG Electronics for advanced cooling solutions at the Oxagon data center campus.
2028: Commissioning of first 300 MW phase of the campus expected.
2028 onward: Full build-out towards 1.5 GW capacity expected.
Neom and DataVolt to build 1.5GW AI data center in Oxagon for $5 billion
Reported February 10, 2025 – Neom and DataVolt have signed an investment agreement to build a 1.5GW AI data center in Oxagon for $5 billion. The initial investment has been made by DataVolt and is expected to cater for phase 1 of the 1.5GW data center development in Oxagon.
The first phase of construction will be completed by 2028, marking the data center operational. Also included in the agreement is that the development land will be provided by Neom’s Oxagon. The providence is in form of a lease to DataVolt. Also pulled from Neom’s end will be the operator and the required infrastructural support.
Oxagon was presumably selected because of its strategic location on the Red Sea coast. This will allow for more easier and efficient connectivity to undersea data cables.
Also as pros for Oxagon’s selection to house the 1.5GW AI data center is its features. Oxagon provides “cost-competitive” renewable energy, green hydrogen, and is seeing a rapid industrial growth according to Neom. This makes Oxagon the ideal location for the $5 billion AI data center project by Neom and DataVolt.
The first “truly” sustainable net zero AI data center in the region
The latest $5 billion handshake between Neom and DataVolt is paramount in the Kingdom’s push for growing digital infrastructure and a sustainable, data driven economy. Once seen to completion, the AI data center in Oxagon will strengthen the Kingdom’s position as the “region’s leading data and AI hub”.
The 1.5GW data factory will house a diverse set of computing power and sustainable architectures. These are expected to intrinsically fill loop holes seen in traditional data centers – especially with “energy efficiency”.
To put into perspective, the International Energy Agency (IEA) figures show electricity consumption by data centers to be 1-1.3% globally. With current tech trends – from AI to the data economy, this figure is expected to rise at the expense of the environment.
Talk on the $5 billion data center
Rajit Nanda, CEO of DataVolt remarked of the project as a “significant milestone” in “advancing the Kingdom’s leadership as a digital powerhouse in the region.” Also added to the commentary by the CEO of Oxagon, Vishal Wanchoo, is that the 1.5GW AI data center in Oxagon puts the Kingdom as part of the face of global energy transition.
Neom is a region taking shape in Saudi Arabia. It has been revered by its founders, drivers, and stakeholders as being at the forefront of arcological sustainability. Included in the development is The Line, Trojena, Oxagon, and the recently opened Sindalah.
Project Fact Sheet
Project: NEOM DataVolt AI data center campus
Location: Oxagon, NEOM, Saudi Arabia
Overall planned capacity: 1.5GW
First phase capacity: 360MW
HUMAIN-DataVolt capacity: 100MW
Initial investment: $5 billion
First 100MW availability: 2028
Construction status: Under construction
Agreement announced: February 2025
Construction launch: August 31, 2026
Energy approach: Renewable energy integration
Cooling: Advanced cooling technologies
Connectivity: Subsea cables to Europe and Africa
Development model: Phased construction
Project Team
Developer: DataVolt
Regional development partner: NEOM
AI infrastructure partner: HUMAIN
Development location: Oxagon
Infrastructure support: NEOM
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