Investors from the Gulf are increasingly targeting Asian markets for AI infrastructure projects as conflict in the Middle East and Europe and supply-chain uncertainty make relatively stable markets more attractive.
Leading deal: Ooredoo backs Zankore in Indonesia
Qatari telecom Ooredoo is the lead investor in Zankore, a new AI compute platform in Indonesia, committing $800 million to support its launch. The company plans to deliver 200 megawatts of capacity next year, and has named Nvidia and Nokia as suppliers.
Ooredoo has maintained a presence in Indonesia for nearly two decades and expects demand for data center capacity in Southeast Asia to more than triple by 2030.
Mubadala considering a major Japan project
Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala is weighing becoming the lead investor in a potential $6.3 billion, 500‑megawatt data center project in Akita prefecture in Japan, according to Bloomberg.
Why this matters
While much attention has focused on the Gulf’s domestic AI build-outs, these sizable international deals indicate that the region is also intent on securing stakes in the global infrastructure that underpins AI. Such investments respond both to geopolitical risk mitigation and to rising demand for data-center capacity in Asia.
Key figures and timing
- Ooredoo: $800 million committed to Zankore; planned 200 megawatts of capacity next year; suppliers include Nvidia and Nokia.
- Mubadala: considering participation as lead investor in a possible $6.3 billion project to deliver 500 megawatts in Akita, Japan.
These transactions show Gulf capital aiming to establish long-term positions in the physical backbone of AI beyond the region’s borders.
