Saudi Arabia is accelerating its push to become a regional hub for artificial intelligence and advanced digital infrastructure, as stc group announced a strategic joint venture between its data-centre subsidiary center3 and Humain, an AI company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), to develop large-scale AI data centres across the Kingdom.
Under the agreement, the joint venture will design, build, and operate next-generation facilities capable of supporting up to 1 gigawatt of AI computing workloads, one of the largest capacities announced in the region to date. The project aims to provide the high-density, low-latency infrastructure required to run large language models (LLMs) and other mission-critical AI applications.
stc group CEO Olayan Alwetaid said the partnership brings together center3’s scale, data-centre expertise, and regional connectivity with Humain’s end-to-end AI capabilities, creating a foundation for infrastructure tailored to the demands of the AI era.
Center3 chief executive Fahad AlHajeri said the joint venture would play a central role in hosting critical digital assets and fostering a broader AI ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. He noted that the company’s expanding data-centre footprint and interconnected platforms would deliver the resilience, density, and availability required for next-generation AI computing.
From Humain’s side, chief executive Tareq Amin said that large-scale AI deployment requires purpose-built infrastructure designed for efficiency and reliability. He added that the partnership is focused on engineering platforms capable of supporting the most demanding AI workloads while remaining adaptable to future technological advances.
The announcement comes as Humain rapidly expands its AI portfolio and global partnerships. In recent months, the company has signed agreements with major international technology players including Adobe, Amazon Web Services, xAI, and Luma AI. In October, Humain also partnered with AirTrunk to develop data-centre capacity in the Kingdom.
The joint venture aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader digital transformation agenda and its ambition to localise advanced technologies, attract global AI investment, and build sovereign digital infrastructure capable of supporting the next phase of economic diversification.
