Actis Explores Major Data Center Investments in Saudi Arabia's Digital Growth Push

UK-based Actis GP is exploring potential investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia's data center sector. This move aligns with the company's strategy to expand into technology and digital infrastructure, supporting the Kingdom's plans to diversify income sources and reduce reliance on oil revenues, all part of Saudi Vision 2030 goals. Sherif El Kholy, Managing Director and Head of Actis in the Middle East and Africa, stated that the company is closely monitoring several potential deals in the data center sector. He mentioned holding intensive meetings with key players in this field, anticipating significant progress by 2026. Actis's interest comes at a time when Saudi Arabia's technology sector, especially in AI and cloud computing, is experiencing rapid growth. This surge is driven by both government and private investments aimed at building advanced digital infrastructure to support various economic sectors. Actis is currently part of a global investment platform after being acquired by the American firm General Atlantic. It manages assets worth approximately $108 billion, with an increasing focus on investing in infrastructure projects in emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East. The company also holds a majority stake in Yellow Door Energy, which specializes in providing solar energy solutions for the industrial and commercial sectors. This strengthens Actis's ability to support data center projects, which require reliable and sustainable energy sources, especially with the rising energy demand due to digital expansion. Sherif El Kholy emphasized that both the Saudi and UAE markets are highly attractive destinations for technology investments. He explained that each market has its unique characteristics and investment opportunities, prompting Actis to develop a portfolio of projects in both countries simultaneously. El Kholy stressed the importance of giving the private sector a greater leading role in implementing technology and digital infrastructure projects linked to Saudi Vision 2030. He believes that expanding private capital participation and foreign direct investment is crucial to ensuring sustainable growth in data centers and advanced technology sectors.