Saudi Arabia’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, known as SDAIA, has announced the laying of the foundation stone for the Hexagon Data Centre in Riyadh, marking the official start of construction on the facility, which will span an area of 30 million square feet.

SDAIA stated that the center is being developed in accordance with international standards to ensure high levels of availability, security, and operational readiness for government data centers.

Classified as a Tier IV facility and holding the highest data center rating from the global Uptime Institute, the project is expected to reach a total capacity of 480 megawatts upon completion. This would make it the world’s largest government data center by power capacity.

The Hexagon Data Centre is designed to meet the growing digital needs of government entities and support the expansion of electronic services. SDAIA said the project will also contribute to strengthening the national economy and enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position in the global digital economy. The foundation-laying ceremony was attended by senior officials from various government entities and hosted by SDAIA President Dr Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, alongside other authority officials.

The event featured an introductory presentation by Dr Issam bin Abdullah Alwagait, Director of the National Information Center at SDAIA, who outlined the project’s technical and engineering specifications, operational design, and international accreditations aligned with recognized global standards.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Alghamdi said the project reflects the continued support of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who also chairs SDAIA’s board.

He added that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in data and artificial intelligence, develop advanced digital infrastructure, and support the goals of Vision 2030, including building a knowledge-based economy and achieving global leadership in advanced technologies.