For decades, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been defined by rapid urbanisation and headline-grabbing physical infrastructure. As 2026 approaches, that story is decisively changing. The region is now investing in what might be called “intellectual infrastructure”: AI, data, and digital systems designed to operate at a national scale rather than as pilot projects.
By 2026, several of the Gulf’s most ambitious digital visions are expected to move from concept to deployment. The first 200-megawatt phase of Stargate UAE—envisioned as a one-gigawatt AI compute cluster—is slated to go live that year. Built by G42 and operated by OpenAI and Oracle, the project aims to underpin advances across healthcare, energy, finance, transportation, and scientific research.
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A parallel expansion is also underway: Microsoft and G42 have announced a 200-megawatt addition to UAE data-centre capacity, part of a broader investment commitment exceeding $15 billion, with operations expected to begin in 2026.
The region is also experimenting with the edges of conventional infrastructure. Abu Dhabi–based Madari Space plans to pilot what it calls the world’s first orbital data centre in 2026, placing data processing and storage capabilities in low Earth orbit.
The idea is to process satellite-generated data in space rather than transmitting vast volumes to energy-intensive ground facilities. Supporters argue this could reduce latency, improve data security, and exploit natural cooling and solar power to create a more sustainable data model.
Urban development, too, is being recast as a technology testbed. Dubai’s Al Jaddaf is positioning itself as a large-scale urban tech hub for trials of net-zero buildings, automated food systems, and smart waste management.
2026 is also expected to see the completion of the Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences, billed as the world’s tallest residential tower—symbolic of how digital ambition and architectural spectacle continue to intersect in the emirate.
Saudi Arabia’s focus is more explicitly systemic. Infrastructure completion is scheduled in 2026 for the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project, expected to be the world’s largest utility-scale green hydrogen plant. The project combines 4GW of solar and wind power with 2.2GW of electrolyser capacity to produce around 600 tonnes of green hydrogen daily. Alongside this, Saudi cities are expanding the use of digital-twin technologies—virtual replicas of physical systems used to simulate, manage, and optimise urban infrastructure, energy networks, and industrial operations in real time. State-backed AI firm HUMAIN has also begun building data centres in Riyadh and Dammam, with both facilities expected to become operational in 2026.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, the push is equally strategic. Oman plans to launch its second AI satellite, OL-2, to strengthen national earth-observation and data-analysis capabilities. The country’s National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies, launched in 2024 to embed AI in logistics and energy, is scheduled to conclude in 2026. Qatar, meanwhile, is deepening its TASMU Smart Qatar programme, with an emphasis on AI research and industrial automation. New Industry 4.0 zones built around 5G-enabled robotics and hyper-automation are expected to be unveiled in 2026, alongside AI-driven healthcare projects focused on clinical decision support and genomics.
