NEOM, the sustainable region taking shape in northwestern Saudi Arabia, and DataVolt, a Saudi-based international developer, investor and operator of data centres, have signed a landmark agreement, marking a significant step toward realising the kingdom’s vision for a sustainable, data-driven economy.

The development will take a phased approach, with Phase One – funded by an initial investment of $5 billion – expected to be operational by 2028.

Aligning with Neom industrial hub Oxagon’s ambition, the 1.5-gigawatt factory will integrate a wide range of computing densities and energy-efficient architectures to address the global challenges posed by traditional data centres.

As part of the agreement, Oxagon will lease DataVolt the land for the development of the facility and provide the sustainable data centre operator with infrastructure support.

Meanwhile, Neom is set to unveil the first phase of its mega project The Line, with the groundbreaking Hidden Marina – a 2.5-km-long development with a built-up area of over 21 million sq m – at the forefront.

Hidden Marina, the first segment of The Line, will stretch 2.5 km in length and rise 500 m high. The development will comprise three interconnected modules and is expected to accommodate over 200,000 residents.

On completion, the development will feature over 80,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms and commercial and retail spaces in addition to fire stations, schools, police and security services, Neom stated.

“The project, a bold step in redefining urban living, will introduce a fully integrated, vertical city built in modular 800-m sections,” remarked Denis Hickey, the Chief Development Officer of Neom, at the PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh.

“With a built-up area surpassing 21 million sq m, the scale of Hidden Marina is unprecedented, dwarfing global benchmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, which has a built-up area of just 350,000 sq m,” explained Hickey.

According to Hickey, more than 140,000 workers are currently engaged in the project’s construction, with over 5,000 dedicated to Neom itself.

“Infrastructure development has seen an investment of over $140 billion, ensuring that essential services such as energy, water, transport, data, and communications are in place to support the emerging metropolis,” he added.

Construction work is also in progress on Neom Green Hydrogen Company green hydrogen manufacturing plant – the largest of its kind in the world.