Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market Size
| Study Period | 2021 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Volume (2025) | 119.34 Billion liters |
| Market Volume (2030) | 426.31 Billion liters |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 29.00% |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market Analysis
The Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market size is estimated at 119.34 billion liters in 2025, and is expected to reach 426.31 billion liters by 2030, at a CAGR of 29% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- IT Load Capacity: The IT load capacity of the Middle East and Africa's colocation data center market is around 1,868.90 MW in 2024.
- Geographical Significance: Climate change poses a significant threat to the Middle East and Africa, making them some of the world's most vulnerable regions. The area's temperatures are rising at a pace quicker than the global average. Projections indicate that by the years 2071-2100, summer temperatures could soar by as much as 4°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Certain regions in the Middle East may soon experience heat and humidity levels that surpass human tolerance. Meanwhile, other areas are facing intensified desertification due to rising heat and drought, leading to more frequent dust storms that could severely affect the population and related factors. Our research forecasts that in 2024, water consumption in this region is expected to surpass 92 billion liters.
- Raised Floor Space: The Middle East and Africa's colocation data center raised floor space is about 6.71 million sq. ft in 2024.
- Projected Installed Racks: In 2024, the Middle East and Africa is set to install over 266,500 racks in its colocation data centers.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market Trends
Colocation Data Centers Flourish as Digitization Surges in the Middle East
- Recently, the GCC countries have seen significant shifts in ICT usage, largely due to advancements in digital infrastructure. As a result, the services available to users have evolved. Internet and telecommunications services are more prevalent in the GCC than on a global scale. Notably, 98.21% of the GCC population uses the internet, starkly outpacing the global average of 63% and marking the GCC as a leader in this domain.
- In the GCC, mobile users now exceed the population count by approximately 137.66%, a stark contrast to the global average of around 55%. The rapid growth of ICT services in the GCC can be attributed to the influx of new commercial mobile service providers, leading to a surge in users. Approximately two-thirds of the region's wireless network operators have rolled out 5G networks, enhancing 5G coverage across the GCC. Furthermore, most Middle Eastern nations have already adopted commercial 4G services.
- Rising OTT consumption has driven up data traffic on smartphones. For example, Etisalat launched its Life TV iOS app a few years ago, following MBC's Shahid TV app, which became the most downloaded app in the Middle East. OSN also introduced its 'Go' service targeting non-pay TV subscribers. However, the Middle East showcases significant regional disparities in the accessibility and pricing of high-speed networks. The growth of OTT platforms and enhancements in speed could lead to increased demand for rack space, potentially resulting in a surge of data centers across the Middle East.
- These developments are expected to drive demand for colocation data centers in the Middle East, as businesses seek scalable and cost-effective solutions to manage the growing data traffic and storage needs.
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A Surge in Internet and Smartphone Users in Africa Fuels the Growth of Mega Data Centers
- Affordable Chinese smartphones, the elimination of a 16% general sales tax in countries like Kenya, and the rising trend of digital services among African youth for education and other pursuits are driving the surge in smartphone usage across the continent.
- In 2019, smartphone connections made up 44% of the total, and with the accelerating tech adoption, this figure is projected to hit 75% by 2025. South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt lead the region with approximately 89 million, 163 million, and 75.6 million smartphone connections, respectively. Notably, about 60% of Nigerian users and 21% of South African users utilize digital wallets, such as M-Pesa, for transactions. In the realm of OTT platforms, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime dominate, with Netflix boasting a leading African subscriber count of roughly 6.4 million in 2022. While 5G services have been rolled out in select African nations, including Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, the overall deployment has been sluggish.
- Despite Africa's 54 nations, only 11 have successfully launched 5G services, leading to an estimate of just 10% of the continent's population being 5G users by 2027. Telecom giants, including Vodafone, are channeling efforts into bolstering their 4G services, with plans to phase out 2G and 3G by 2026. To enhance user experience, these companies might need to expand their rack numbers, subsequently increasing their IT load capacity over time.
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Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Industry Overview
- In the Middle East and Africa's consolidated water consumption data center market, five major players dominate the landscape. At the forefront are Equinix Inc, Digital Realty Trust Inc, MEEZA, Etisalat and Africa Data Centres.
- Africa Data Centres is at the forefront of championing a sustainable future in the data centre industry. Driven by a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, the company is actively working to minimize its ecological footprint and set pioneering benchmarks for the sector. A cornerstone of its strategy has been the adoption of renewable energy, markedly curtailing dependence on traditional energy sources. The sustainability agenda also prioritizes water conservation. Through the deployment of closed-loop cooling systems in its facilities, Africa Data Centres has achieved a remarkable near-zero Water Usage Effectiveness. To bolster its water supply, particularly during droughts, the company has integrated cutting-edge solutions such as Atmospheric Water Generators and on-site storage. These initiatives not only fortify operations but also enable support for local communities in their times of need.
- Equinix is actively pursuing its goal of becoming water positive. Their efforts include employing fuel cells to save billions of gallons of water, tapping into deep lake water cooling, and implementing Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) combined with free air cooling to reduce power usage. In addition, Equinix is committed to investigating innovative technologies and sustainable methods to enhance its water conservation and energy efficiency goals. With these progressive measures, Equinix aims to establish itself as a benchmark in the industry for environmental responsibility and resource management.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market Leaders
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Equinix, Inc.
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Digital Realty Trust Inc.
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MEEZA
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Etisalat
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Africa Data Centres
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market News
- July 2024: Khazna Data Centers' AUH6 facility places a strong emphasis on water conservation. The operator utilizes evaporative cooling technology, significantly reducing water consumption. This adiabatic cooling approach not only supports winter cooling but also features a water sprinkler for air cooling, echoing certain traditional Arabic architectural methods. Furthermore, although the facility uses liquid cooling in its racks, it steers clear of the direct-to-chip cooling commonly linked with training architectures.
- May 2024: Microsoft, in collaboration with Dubai-based AI firm G42, is investing $1 billion to establish a data center in Kenya. This data center will harness geothermal energy, tapping into heat naturally stored beneath the Earth's crust. Notably, it will also incorporate advanced water conservation technology.
- May 2023: Nearly ten years ago, Cape Town faced a dire situation, teetering on the brink of a water crisis with just 90 days of water supply left. However, through the implementation of innovative pressure reduction techniques, a consistent decrease in water consumption, and robust public awareness initiatives, the city successfully sidestepped this looming disaster. Yet, challenges persist. Climate change continues to strain water management efforts nationwide, and Cape Town is feeling the brunt. The city grapples with the expansion of informal settlements, intermittent power outages, and insufficient systems to address environmental pollution.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Industry Segmentation
- The study tracks the critical applications of water for running large data centers, such as DC cooling, and power generation. The study also includes key applications based on the Water Consumption in Data Centers. The study also includes the overall water consumption based on the DC footprint across regions in terms of billion liters. Lastly, the study tracks the underlying trends and developments conceptualized by leading industry data center operators and cloud service providers.
- The Study of Data Center Water Consumption in the Middle East and Africa is Segmented by Source of Water Procurement (Potable Water, Non-Potable Water, Other Alternate Sources), by Data Center Type (Enterprise, Colocation, Cloud Service Providers), and by Data Center Size (Mega, Massive, Large, Medium, Small). The Market Sizes and Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Volume (Billion Liters).
| Market Segmentation - By Source of Water Procurement | Potable Water (Via Regional Water Utility Companies, Local Water Authorities or Private Companies) |
| Non-Potable Water (It Includes greywater (Treated Sewage or Recycled Water) | |
| Other Alternate Source (It includes on-site Groundwater, Surface Water, Seawater, Water produced via a byproduct of oil and gas extraction, and Rainwater) | |
| Market Segmentation - By Data Center Type | Enterprise |
| Colocation | |
| Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) | |
| Market Segmentation - By Data Center Size | Mega |
| Massive | |
| Large | |
| Medium | |
| Small |
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Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market Research FAQs
How big is the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market?
The Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market size is expected to reach 119.34 billion liters in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 29% to reach 426.31 billion liters by 2030.
What is the current Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market size?
In 2025, the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market size is expected to reach 119.34 billion liters.
Who are the key players in Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market?
Equinix, Inc., Digital Realty Trust Inc., MEEZA, Etisalat and Africa Data Centres are the major companies operating in the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market.
What years does this Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market size was estimated at 84.73 billion liters. The report covers the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market historical market size for years: 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In The Middle East And Africa analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
