STC Group’s center3 subsidiary and state-backed HUMAIN have signed a joint venture that will build enough computing capacity to power thousands of AI applications across the kingdom.
The partnership targets 1 gigawatt of total AI capacity, starting with an initial 250 megawatts. For context, that’s enough processing power to run complex AI models that would normally require entire buildings full of traditional servers.
HUMAIN Takes Control With 51% Ownership Stake
HUMAIN secured the majority position with 51% ownership, while STC holds the remaining 49%. This split gives the Public Investment Fund-backed company strategic control over operations and expansion decisions.
The deal builds on existing ties between the companies. They first partnered in October 2024 for connectivity services, proving their ability to work together on complex infrastructure projects.
Center3 Brings Proven Regional Expertise
Center3 operates 20 data centres across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The company targets 300MW of installed capacity by 2027 and 1GW by 2030, goals now accelerated through the HUMAIN partnership.
“Our role in this partnership is to turn vision into capacity,” said Fahad AlHajeri, CEO of center3. “We will deliver the density, resilience, and availability required for next-generation AI computing.”
Center3’s network spans the Middle East and Africa with strategic connectivity linking Europe, Asia, and Africa through advanced subsea cable systems.
HUMAIN’s Ambitious AI Infrastructure Goals
HUMAIN launched in May 2024 with backing from Saudi Arabia’s $925 billion Public Investment Fund. The company targets 6.6GW of data center capacity over the next decade – making it one of the world’s largest AI infrastructure players.
“AI at scale requires purpose-built compute, efficiency, and resilience,” said Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN. “We are engineering infrastructure capable of meeting the most demanding workloads while designed to support future advancements.”
The company operates across four core areas: next-generation data centers, hyper-performance cloud platforms, advanced AI models, including Arabic language processing, and sector-specific AI solutions.
Saudi Vision 2030 Digital Transformation Push
This partnership directly supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. The kingdom allocated $40 billion specifically for AI technology investments, including semiconductor development and data center infrastructure.
STC Group CEO Olayan Alwetaid emphasised the strategic importance: “This joint venture reinforces our commitment to enabling the region’s digital future. We are creating the right foundation to strengthen the region’s capacity to host next-generation AI workloads.”
Large Language Model Deployment Focus
The new facilities will specifically target large language model hosting and mission-critical AI applications. This addresses growing enterprise demand for Arabic language AI models and localised computing power.
Current data centers often struggle with AI workloads due to power and cooling requirements. Purpose-built AI facilities can handle these intensive computational demands more efficiently.
The six-month memorandum of understanding between HUMAIN and center3 establishes the groundwork for rapid deployment, with initial capacity development subject to customer commitments.
