- Eni and Khazna Data Centers agree to build a data campus in Abu Dhabi with a capacity over 100 MW.
- The facility will support Eni’s digital needs and promote sustainable energy integration in data infrastructure.
What happened: New Abu Dhabi campus to support Eni’s digital operations and Khazna’s growth
Energy group Eni has partnered with Khazna Data Centers to jointly develop a large-scale data centre campus in Abu Dhabi. Announced on 17 July, the project will deliver over 100 megawatts (MW) of IT load and will be built in phases. According to the statement, this collaboration will provide Eni with advanced digital infrastructure to support its operational technologies and industrial applications in the Middle East.
Khazna will lead the design, development, and operation of the campus, while Eni will be the primary tenant. The campus aims to incorporate high energy-efficiency standards and leverage renewable energy sources where feasible. Construction timelines and financial terms have not been disclosed. The companies say this partnership marks a step forward in aligning data infrastructure with the energy transition.
This development comes as Khazna expands its footprint beyond the UAE, having recently announced a joint venture in Egypt with Benya Group to launch data services across North Africa.
Also read: Khazna expands UAE data centre footprint with new facilities
Also read: Khazna and Nvidia partner to bring AI infrastructure to UAE
Why this is important
The Eni–Khazna partnership underlines growing cross-industry convergence between energy and digital infrastructure providers. As oil and gas companies modernise their operations, robust data services become central to asset monitoring, AI modelling, and emissions tracking. Building proprietary or near-proprietary data centres helps firms like Eni retain control over sensitive information and digital transformation paths.
Eni’s choice of Abu Dhabi aligns with the UAE’s broader ambitions to become a digital and sustainability hub. With ADQ owning Khazna, the move also supports national efforts to anchor more critical infrastructure domestically. Importantly, by developing capacity exceeding 100 MW, the campus enters the hyperscale segment, reflecting a demand shift towards heavier compute workloads, including AI and machine learning.
This raises ongoing questions about power demand in the Gulf’s data sector, where sustainability claims often sit uncomfortably with regional fossil fuel dependency. However, Khazna’s recent efforts to explore green energy, coupled with Eni’s climate commitments, may indicate steps towards more credible decarbonisation pathways.
