Saudi Arabia has officially begun construction of the Hexagon Data Centre, a major national digital infrastructure project led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), following the laying of the foundation stone in Riyadh.
Spanning 30 million square feet, the facility is designed to meet the highest international standards for availability, security, and operational readiness for government data centres. According to SDAIA, the project is classified as Tier IV and holds the highest data centre rating from the Uptime Institute.
Once completed, the Hexagon Data Centre will have a total capacity of 480 megawatts, making it the world’s largest government data centre by MW capacity. The facility is expected to support the growing demand for digital government services as reliance on electronic platforms continues to expand across the Kingdom.
The project is positioned as a strategic national asset, contributing to economic development while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role in the global digital economy.
The foundation-laying ceremony was attended by senior officials from various government entities and hosted by SDAIA President Dr Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, alongside senior authority representatives.
The event opened with a detailed presentation by Dr Issam bin Abdullah Alwagait, Director of the National Information Centre at SDAIA, who outlined the project’s technical and engineering specifications, operational architecture, and the international accreditations secured for the facility’s design and solutions.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Alghamdi said the project reflects continued support from Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of SDAIA’s Board of Directors.
“This support enables the Authority, as the kingdom’s competent body for data – including big data – and artificial intelligence and the national reference for their regulation, development and use to contribute to advancing the Kingdom toward leadership among data- and AI-driven economies.
“The kingdom will continue to strengthen its presence in advanced technologies with the ongoing support of HRH the Crown Prince.”
Dr Alghamdi added that SDAIA will continue to pursue large-scale, forward-looking initiatives aimed at building an integrated digital ecosystem, strengthening national data and AI capabilities, and developing world-class technical infrastructure that enhances competitiveness and attracts investment.
The Hexagon Data Centre project aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which targets the development of a sustainable, knowledge-based economy and global leadership in advanced technologies.
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