Khazna's 100MW AI Data Hub Sets New Standard in UAE

AJMAN, UAE – February 24, 2026 – A new benchmark for the Middle East and North Africa's digital future is taking shape in Ajman. Khazna Data Centers, a global leader in hyperscale infrastructure, has received the prestigious Uptime Institute Tier III Certification of Design Documents for its groundbreaking QAJ01 facility. This 100-megawatt (MW) data center is not just the largest in Khazna’s portfolio; it is engineered to be the region's first certified AI data center featuring advanced liquid cooling, a crucial step in meeting the voracious demands of the artificial intelligence era.

The certification validates that the design of this massive facility meets the industry’s most rigorous global standards for resilience and operational uptime. As construction progresses, with an initial phase expected to be completed by December 2026, QAJ01 represents a pivotal investment in the foundational infrastructure required to power next-generation AI applications, from large-scale model training to real-time inference.

The Engineering Demands of the AI Era

The term "AI-optimized" signifies a fundamental shift in data center design, moving far beyond the requirements of traditional cloud computing. Modern AI workloads, particularly those involving generative AI and large language models (LLMs), rely on dense clusters of specialized hardware like Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). These processors consume immense power and, in turn, generate extreme levels of heat, rendering conventional cooling methods inefficient.

While a typical data center rack might operate at 5 to 10 kilowatts (kW), racks packed with high-performance GPUs can easily exceed 40 kW and push towards 100 kW or more. The QAJ01 facility is purpose-built for this reality. Its design encompasses 20 distinct data halls, each delivering a substantial 5 MW of IT capacity, creating a modular and scalable environment ready for high-density deployments. This architecture is essential to prevent thermal throttling—where processors slow down to avoid overheating—ensuring that expensive AI hardware can operate at peak performance continuously.

“Achieving Tier III Certification for our Ajman facility reflects Khazna’s deep commitment to engineering excellence and operational resilience as we scale to meet the AI era," said Abdulmajeed Harmoodi, Chief Technology Officer, Khazna Data Centers. "QAJ1 sets a new regional benchmark, combining high-density readiness, advanced liquid cooling, and globally certified design to support the next generation of compute. It is a strategic milestone in our mission to deliver future-ready infrastructure.”

Liquid Cooling: The Key to AI Efficiency

At the heart of QAJ01's AI-optimized design is its advanced liquid-cooling system. As rack densities skyrocket, air cooling reaches its physical and economic limits. Liquid, which can be up to 3,000 times more effective at heat transfer than air, becomes a necessity. By employing technologies like direct-to-chip cooling, where coolant is circulated through cold plates attached directly to the hottest components like GPUs and CPUs, heat is removed efficiently at its source.

This approach delivers critical benefits beyond just thermal management. Liquid cooling is significantly more energy-efficient than traditional air conditioning, which relies on power-hungry fans and compressors to move massive volumes of air. By reducing the energy spent on cooling, facilities like QAJ01 can achieve a much lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)—a key metric for data center efficiency. This is particularly vital in the UAE's arid climate, where sustainability and resource management are paramount. The integration of liquid cooling demonstrates that extreme computing power and environmental responsibility can be engineered to coexist.

A New Benchmark for Regional Infrastructure

The Uptime Institute Tier III Certification of Design Documents (TCDD) provides a crucial layer of assurance. This certification confirms that the facility's blueprints align with a globally recognized standard for concurrent maintainability, meaning any component can be shut down for maintenance or replacement without impacting IT operations. For mission-critical AI workloads, which can run for weeks or months, this level of resilience is non-negotiable.

“This Tier Certification marks an important advancement for the regional digital infrastructure ecosystem,” stated Mustapha Louni, CBO, Uptime Institute. “Khazna’s AI-optimized facility integrates liquid cooling and high-density configurations while maintaining Tier III level resilience. It demonstrates how data centers can evolve to meet the accelerating compute needs of AI without compromising reliability or efficiency.”

The TCDD award is the first step in a rigorous process, with a subsequent Tier Certification of Constructed Facility award verifying that the final build matches the resilient design. Khazna's track record inspires confidence; its UAE portfolio already includes 30 data centers, 22 of which have successfully achieved the Tier III Constructed Facility award, showcasing a deep-seated commitment to operational excellence. QAJ01 is therefore not an experiment, but the next logical evolution in a proven strategy.

Fueling the UAE's Digital Economy

The development of QAJ01 is intrinsically linked to the United Arab Emirates' ambitious national vision. The UAE's Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 aims to establish the nation as a global leader in AI, and achieving this goal requires world-class digital infrastructure. Facilities like QAJ01 are the engines that will power this transformation, providing the massive computational resources needed for innovation across government, healthcare, finance, and education.

By building this sovereign AI capacity, the UAE not only supports its domestic industries but also positions itself as a powerful magnet for international technology companies and foreign investment. The availability of reliable, high-performance, and scalable AI infrastructure reduces the barrier to entry for businesses looking to deploy AI-driven services in the region. This flagship data center is more than a building; it is a foundational pillar for a thriving digital economy, enabling everything from local startups developing novel AI applications to hyperscale cloud providers expanding their regional footprint. The project underscores a clear understanding that in the 21st century, a nation's computational power is a direct measure of its economic and strategic strength.