# UAE and Saudi Arabia AI data center expansion > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uae-and-saudi-arabia-ai-data-center-expansion > Updated: 2026-10-05T10:30:13.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. The United Arab Emirates is undergoing a significant expansion of its artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure. To mitigate security risks posed by regional tensions and potential Iranian missile or drone attacks, the UAE is reviewing plans for its 5-gigawatt AI data center project. Authorities are considering restructuring the original single-campus design in Abu Dhabi into a distributed network of smaller, more resilient facilities, potentially utilizing underground bunkers, blast-resistant concrete, and electronic jamming technology. This expansion is part of a broader regional trend. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are projected to add between 2 GW and 3 GW of IT power capacity to the Middle East market by 2030, accounting for over 80 percent of new capacity in the GCC region. Growth is being driven by massive investments in AI, such as the $30 billion Stargate UAE project, government support, and low energy costs. While the UAE is currently accelerating its expansion, Saudi Arabia is expected to see significant capacity additions later in the decade. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-05: UAE and Saudi Arabia to add up to 3 GW of data center power by 2030 The UAE and Saudi Arabia are expected to add up to 3 GW of data center power by 2030, accounting for over 80% of the GCC region's capacity growth driven by AI investment. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uae-and-saudi-arabia-to-add-up-to-3-gw-of-data-center-power-by-2030 ### 2026-09-12: UAE reviews AI data center plans due to Iranian security threats The UAE is redesigning its 5GW AI data center project into a distributed network of facilities to protect against potential Iranian missile and drone attacks. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-arab-emirates-decentralizes-massive-ai-data-center-project --- Cite as: UAE and Saudi Arabia AI data center expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uae-and-saudi-arabia-ai-data-center-expansion