Qatari telco Ooredoo and Iron Mountain have announced a partnership for data center growth across the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.
The deal will see Iron Mountain take a minority stake in Ooredoo’s data center company, MENA Digital Hub.
Financial details of the transaction were not shared.
The companies said the partnership will allow Ooredoo to expand its footprint of hyperscale and AI data center infrastructure in MENA, combining Ooredoo’s “local development and operational track record with Iron Mountain’s global operating expertise.”
Initially, the pair will focus on operational support, infrastructure enhancement, and supporting MENA Digital Hub’s plans to expand data center capacity in the MENA region.
“We are delighted to partner with Ooredoo and support the burgeoning digital transformation in the MENA region. This alliance strengthens our data center business and demonstrates our commitment to investing in the region's future. We see immense potential in the MENA market and are excited to leverage our expertise to drive innovation and growth alongside Ooredoo,” said Bill Meaney, CEO and president of Iron Mountain.
Sunita Bottse, CEO of the MENA Digital Hub, added: “This strategic collaboration enables MENA Digital Hub to leverage Iron Mountain’s deep expertise alongside Ooredoo’s market strength, reinforcing our ability to meet the escalating demand for reliable and scalable data centers across key markets in the region. It also enhances the value we deliver to both new and existing customers, solidifying our position as a key enabler of digital infrastructure growth.”
Bottse was appointed as CEO of MENA Digital Hub in June last year.
Ooredoo Group currently has 26 data centers in operation across Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, and Tunisia. The company said it had raised QAR 2 billion ($551m) in bank financing late last year to accelerate its data center and AI business.
Iron Mountain operates in 61 countries and has around 415MW of colocation and hyperscale capacity in 21 markets across seven countries in three continents. The company said it has a potential capacity of nearly 1.3GW.
The company doesn't currently have any data center footprint in the Middle East or Africa. Beyond Europe and North America, Iron Mountain operates data centers in India through a joint venture with Web Werks, and in Singapore.
