Gulf’s Grand AI Gamble Targets the Future of Energy

A $20B AI venture boosts Gulf compute power and hints at big gains for energy and tech

15 Dec 2025

The Gulf is making a power move in artificial intelligence. Qatar-backed group Qai and global investor Brookfield have joined forces on a $20 billion AI infrastructure venture, signaling a new era of digital ambition for the region.

Announced in December, the deal aims to build large-scale computing facilities capable of handling the world’s most demanding AI systems. While the project spans multiple industries, analysts say energy firms stand to gain the most. Local access to high-performance compute could sharpen analytics for exploration, maintenance, and efficiency in oil and gas operations.

At its core, the venture is about bringing computing muscle closer to where data lives. The first facilities will rise in Qatar, with plans for regional expansion. Proximity matters: it trims latency, lowers costs, and keeps data within local borders, a growing concern in industries bound by sovereignty and compliance rules.

The timing is no accident. Across the Gulf, governments are racing to anchor their economies in digital infrastructure, part of broader efforts to diversify beyond hydrocarbons. The Qai–Brookfield partnership fits neatly into this vision, positioning the region as a potential hub for advanced computing and AI research.

Both partners see the initiative as a foundation, not a finish line. Brookfield cites soaring demand for data centers worldwide, while Qai stresses the need for scalable and responsible AI infrastructure. Analysts warn the world may need trillions in new investment before the decade’s end to meet the growing appetite for computing power.

The challenges are real: data centers guzzle energy, require complex cooling, and must defend against cyber threats. Yet momentum is unmistakable. As AI shifts from experimentation to daily use, those with the strongest digital backbones will lead the next industrial wave.

For the Gulf, the takeaway is clear. With billions flowing into AI infrastructure, the region is betting that today’s data centers will power tomorrow’s economies.