By: George Ashwin
Across the world, organisations across all sectors are beginning to develop the necessary structures and processes to gain operational benefits from Artificial Intelligence (AI). Within the United States, for example, investments into AI totalled approximately 67 billion USD in 2024, driven by businesses looking to harness the long-term potential of the technology.
Beyond the States, many regions have begun to stake their claim to sit at the forefront of AI developments. An AI-driven future is now on the horizon, with the technology set to inject an estimated 15.7 trillion USD into the global economy by 2030. The Middle East is set to be one such player, with AI likely to contribute around 320 billion USD to its economy by the same year. Significant investments have already been made into new initiatives and projects designed to diversify economies away from the region’s oil and gas assets, and the impact is already starting to be felt in several countries.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to see the biggest boost within the region, with AI expected to account for 14 percent of its GDP by 2030. Though Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not too far behind. Government mandates for greater diversification have led to innovative programs and initiatives at both the Kingdom and city levels.
This includes the UAE’s ‘National AI Strategy’ and a 13 billion United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) investment to make the country the first to become AI-native by 2031. At a basic level, the strategy aims to transform the UAE into a world leader by investing in people and industries where AI can have the greatest impact, including healthcare, education, and governmental development. The UAE AI and Blockchain Council will oversee the implementation of the strategy and its eight objectives, which encompass everything from effective regulation and leading research capabilities to increasing the UAE’s competitive assets in priority sectors through AI deployment.
Within Europe, one country that has started to recognise AI for its potential is the United Kingdom. In 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that the use of AI could add a potential 47 billion Pound Sterling (GBP) to the UK economy each year over the next decade. Now - detailed for the first time in January 2025 - the government has launched an ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’ to enhance and revitalise public services across the country.
Such significant investment in both the Middle East and the United Kingdom has fuelled a number of key trends within the data centre sector. The increasing desire for low-latency services and real-time data analysis has resulted in smaller, decentralised