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Capacity Middle East 2026

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Keynote Panel:  Beyond the Cloud: Building AI-Ready Infrastructure in the Middle East and beyond

10 Feb 2026
Datacloud stage
Datacloud Middle East

As AI adoption accelerates across the Middle East, the demand for high-performance computing (HPC) is reshaping the data centre landscape. This panel explores how operators, governments, and hyperscalers are responding to the infrastructure, energy, and strategic challenges of building AI-ready facilities at scale. The panel discusses:  

 

  • How are regional energy strategies and sustainability goals influencing the design and operation of HPC environments?  

  • What role do partnerships between hyperscalers, governments, and local operators play in scaling AI infrastructure across the region? 

  • How can the Middle East position itself as a global hub for AI and HPC innovation, and how can we manage the risks in these large scale projects?
  • How can stakeholders ensure long-term ROI while navigating rapid technological change, regulatory pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty? 

Chairperson
Nicholas Collins, Senior Industry Advisor
Speakers
Mehdi Paryavi, Chairman - International Data Center Authority (IDCA)
Kamel Tawil, Managing Director, Middle East & North Africa - EQUINIX
Johan Nilerud, Chief Strategy Officer - KHAZNA DATA CENTERS
Reem El Khatib, Risk Management Executive, Assistant Vice President - LOCKTON
Majid AlNaqbi, Head of Data Centre Business - DU
Mohammed Alqhtani, CTO - Center3
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