Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – January 28, 2026 — Johnson Controls Arabia (JCA), a global leader in smart, sustainable building technologies and energy efficiency solutions, participated in Data Center Nation Riyadh 2026, held on January 28 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC). JCA took part in the executive panel “Cooling the AI Revolution: Thermal Innovation for MENA’s Billion-Token Data Centers,” bringing strategic insight into the rising demands of next-generation AI infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia is rapidly positioning itself as a regional and global hub for artificial intelligence and data center development, driven by ambitious national strategies and Vision 2030 priorities that place data and AI at the core of economic transformation. Out of 96 Vision 2030 objectives, 66 are directly or indirectly tied to data and AI advancement, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to digital leadership.
Today, Saudi Arabia accounts for approximately 60–70% of the Middle East’s total data center capacity, firmly positioning the Kingdom as a regional hub for hyperscale computing and AI workloads, according to Businesswise. The Kingdom also ranks fifth globally and first in the Arab world for AI growth and readiness, supported by clear policies, institutional investment, and integrated national capability building.
Dr. Mohanad Al Shaikh, CEO of Johnson Controls Arabia, said, “What we are witnessing in Saudi Arabia today is the development of national digital infrastructure to support the AI economy at scale. Our participation at Data Center Nation reflects the heart of our mission, delivering fully integrated, locally delivered solutions that meet global standards and advance the Kingdom’s ambition to lead the future of AI.”
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia is moving decisively toward gigawatt-scale digital infrastructure, supported by significant investment and a clear national ambition. Reuters reports indicate that initiatives such as Humain aim to reach approximately 6 GW of data center capacity by 2034, signaling the Kingdom’s transition to AI at scale. The future will be defined by data centers that are denser, smarter, and far more energy-efficient, with thermal innovation serving as a key enabler of this transformation.
In this context, Johnson Controls Arabia’s competitive advantage lies in combining the global innovation of Johnson Controls International with strong local execution. Global investments in R&D, advanced cooling technologies, and digital platforms are systematically transferred and localized within the Saudi market, extending beyond equipment to include engineering expertise, system design, operations, and workforce development.
The company delivers fully integrated, end-to-end data center solutions across the entire project lifecycle, from engineering design and high-efficiency cooling systems to security, fire protection, and digital platforms for predictive analytics and smart maintenance, ensuring long-term operational resilience and performance.
