Ooredoo Kuwait launches country’s first sovereign AI data centre
Kuwait telecoms operator deploys NVIDIA H200 GPU infrastructure
#Kuwait #datacentres – Ooredoo Kuwait has launched the country’s first sovereign AI-enabled data centre, developed in collaboration with global chipmaker NVIDIA. The data centre includes NVIDIA H200 Tensor Core GPUs for generative AI and high-performance computing workloads. The new AI data centre will allow public and private sectors to develop and operate AI models locally under national governance standards. The initiative aligns with Kuwait Vision 2035 to build a knowledge-based, innovation-driven digital economy, with the global AI market projected to surpass $1.8 trillion by 2030.
SO WHAT? – The deployment of sovereign AI infrastructure now gives Kuwaiti organisations access to AI compute within its national borders, allowing government and regulated industries to meet compliance standards. By establishing local AI-ready computing capacity, Kuwait also reduces its dependence on external cloud providers whilst creating opportunities for domestic AI model development. Kuwait now joins other Gulf countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in hosting its own sovereign AI infrastructure.
Here are some key points about this announcement:
Kuwait telecommunications company Ooredoo Kuwait, part of the Qatar-headquartered Ooredoo Group, announced the launch Kuwait’s first sovereign AI-enabled data center powered by NVIDIA H200 Tensor Core GPUs for generative AI and high-performance computing workloads.
The AI data centre enables public and private sector organisations to build and operate AI models locally under national security and governance standards.
The partnership with NVIDIA extends beyond infrastructure to include national AI skill-building programmes, local hackathons and initiatives to develop Kuwaiti large language models (LLMs), aimed at empowering national talent for digital transformation.
Ooredoo Kuwait is evolving from a telecommunications provider into a digital infrastructure provider, integrating 5G Advanced networks, fibre optics and AI-powered data centres to enable next-generation capabilities across sectors.
Ooredoo itself applies AI operationally across smart assistants, employee self-service systems, AI-driven recruitment, predictive customer behaviour analytics, intelligent network traffic forecasting, root-cause analysis for technical faults and talent development programmes.
ZOOM OUT – Ooredoo Group announced its NVIDIA Cloud Partner status in 2024, signing a deal to deploy thousands of NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs across its Middle East and North Africa operations. The partnership will enable Ooredoo to offer GPU-as-a-Service providing on-demand access to advanced AI and machine learning tools across Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait and the Maldives. The agreement empowers local Ooredoo operators to establish their own local clouds, bringing AI infrastructure closer to customers. Meanwhile, sovereign AI infrastructure in each country will meet data security measures required by local data laws, supporting Ooredoo’s aspirations to become a leading digital infrastructure provider across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Read more about Ooredoo:
Ooredoo secures $549m to build out AI infrastructure (Middle East AI News)
Ooredoo to buy thousands of Nvidia GPUs (Middle East AI News)