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Connect | MENA // DCD>Major Panel: Breaking the ice - Do ‘universal’ cooling strategies fall short in the Middle East?

  • —
  • Main Stage
  • Data Center Cooling
  • Open Session
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Speakers

Ahmed Mostafa

Data Center Technical Director, Meinhardt MENA

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Ahmed Mostafa

Data Center Technical Director, Meinhardt MENA

Ahmed Mostafa is a Chartered Engineer (CEng MCIBSE) with the Engineering Council in the UK, bringing over 15 years of experience in data center and MEP design, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

He currently serves as the QA/QC Design Manager for telecommunications, electrical, and mechanical infrastructures at Meinhardt Group, where he leads innovation to create the most sustainable data center designs. In his role, Ahmed ensures the quality of design submissions for data centers, verifying compliance with international standards and regulations. He is also adapting sustainable cooling solutions, such as immersion cooling and direct-to-chip cooling, and integrating renewable energy sources into both new and legacy data center infrastructures. As Meinhardt is an ESCO (Energy Service Company), he is responsible for energy auditing and management, driving initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and reduce carbon footprints.

Ahmed holds several prestigious certifications. In data center design, he is an Accredited Tier Professional (ATP) from the Uptime Institute and a Certified TIA-942C Design Consultant from TIA. His energy management and auditing credentials include Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP), and Performance contracting and funding professional (PCF) from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) in the US. Additionally, Ahmed is certified in sustainability with Accredited Sustainability Advisor (ASA) from the Uptime Institute and as a LEED Accredited Professional from the US Green Building Council. His engineering credentials include the Certified HVAC Designer (CHD) from ASHRAE, and he holds Chartered Engineer status with both the Engineering Council and CIBSE in the UK, along with memberships in ASHRAE (MASHRAE), CIBSE (MCIBSE), and AEE (MAEE).

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Tassos Peppas

Regional Director, Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia (METCA), Vertiv

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Tassos Peppas

Regional Director, Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia (METCA), Vertiv

As the Regional Director for Vertiv in the METCA region, Tassos has led transformative growth, unifying diverse territories and driving innovative strategies. With over 24 years of data center sales experience, he has consistently delivered exceptional results across various regions. His leadership is fueled by a passion for growth, customer satisfaction, and fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.

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Jose Farrona

Jose Farrona

Sr Solutions Engineer EMEA, Prime Data Centers

Salah Habli

Salah Habli

Projects Director, Syska Hennessy Group

It's no secret that data centers in the Middle East must innovate to manage the region’s harsh climate and an even harsher demand for computing power, particularly as we move towards the age of AI.

Some cooling methods used in Europe and North America may not be suitable for this region and while the global conversation is heading towards liquid cooling, the issue of water scarcity poses significant risks to data centers that necessitate water for cooling.

So is this the end for liquid cooling, before it began to take hold in this region? What innovative HVAC designs can accommodate, or even replace liquid cooling?

Against all the odds, will we see an increase in direct-to-chip liquid cooling and immersion cooling? What role does air cooling still have to play? Are water-cooled chiller systems the way forward? Join this panel to address:

  • Climatic challenges: What merit is there for a liquid cooling conversation?
  • Think outside the box: What innovative cooling methods are right for the MENA region?