Send us Fan Mail

In the fourth episode of our series recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes, Andy Davis is once again joined by co-host Rory Flashman from Spa Communications to explore the rapid growth of the Gulf region as a major data centre market.

Joining the conversation:

Simon Young, Google

Stephen Beard, Knight Frank

Together, they discuss why the Middle East has become one of the most talked-about regions in digital infrastructure, and how government ambition, sovereign wealth, power availability and AI demand are helping to accelerate growth across the market.

The conversation explores the role of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman in the region’s data centre development, as well as the opportunities and challenges that come with building at scale in a fast-moving market.

Simon and Stephen also discuss the importance of leadership and long-term vision across the GCC, the impact of major AI initiatives, and why the region could become an increasingly important bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa.

The episode also looks at how international operators and Middle Eastern developers are approaching expansion, the role of sovereign wealth funds, and what other markets, including the UK, could learn from the region’s ability to move quickly and reduce barriers to development.

Recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes.

Key Topics:

Why the Gulf region has become a major data centre growth market

How government leadership and national AI strategies are driving investment

The role of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel as leading regional hubs

Why power cost and availability are central to the region’s opportunity

The potential for AI infrastructure growth in Kuwait, Oman and other emerging Gulf markets

Why fibre connectivity and international transit remain important challenges

How data centre design in the Middle East compares with Europe

The impact of geopolitical uncertainty on investment decisions

Why international operators are looking more closely at the region

How Middle Eastern developers and sovereign wealth funds are expanding globally

What the UK and other mature markets could learn from the Gulf’s speed of execution

Why talent development and local workforce initiatives will be critical to long-term growth

How AI adoption is changing the wider data centre and digital infrastructure conversation

Tune in for an insightful conversation on how the Gulf region is positioning itself at the centre of the next wave of data centre and AI infrastructure growth, and why speed, capital, power and policy will all play a major role in shaping its future.

Support the show

The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.

To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the Inside Data Centre Podcast, Andy Davis is joined by Tom Babbington, Founder and CEO of Adaptive MDC. With a career spanning 42 countries, including delivering hyperscale in Finland, Tom explains how his approach to modular data centre design was shaped by solving problems on the ground, and why execution, not innovation, is now the industry's biggest bottleneck.

Key Topics:

• How a career across 42 countries shaped Tom's approach to modular delivery
• Why modular doesn't mean small: reference designs now scale past 100MW
• Execution, not ideas, is the industry's real barrier to faster delivery
• Cross-vendor collaboration could unlock timelines vendors say are fixed
• Public perception of data centres is shifting from ignored to scrutinised
• Tom's advice for newcomers: stay curious, don't fear not knowing

Tune in for a grounded take on where modular data centres are headed, and what it will actually take to keep pace with demand.

Support the show

The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.

To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect

Send us Fan Mail

In the third episode of our series recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes, Andy Davis is once again joined by co-host Rory Flashman from Spa Communications to explore one of the biggest challenges facing the data centre industry: power.

Joining the conversation:

Chris Pennington, Director, Energy and Sustainability, Iron Mountain

Afonso Salema, CEO, Exus Digital

Together, they discuss whether the industry is really at power capacity, or whether data centres need to become smarter, more flexible and more responsive to the grids they depend on.

The conversation looks at how the industry can unlock stranded grid capacity, the role of energy storage and flexible load, and why the traditional approach of simply asking the grid for constant supply may no longer be enough.

Chris and Afonso also explore behind-the-meter power, the differences between the US and European markets, and whether on-site generation is a short-term bridge to grid connection or a longer-term part of the data centre power mix.

The episode also tackles the debate around nuclear, microgrids, renewable energy, affordability, total cost of ownership and the need for data centres to work more closely with TSOs, regulators and local communities.

Recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes.

Key Topics:

• Why access to power has become one of the industry’s biggest challenges
• How data centres can use flexible load and storage to unlock grid capacity
• The role of behind-the-meter power as a bridge to grid connection
• Why power affordability is becoming central to AI infrastructure growth
• The differences between US and European power strategies
• Whether gas can play a viable role in European data centre power
• The future of nuclear, SMRs and grid-connected clean energy
• Why there is no one-size-fits-all solution to power constraints
• How peak shaving and smarter energy use can reduce costs
• The importance of community engagement and listening to local priorities
• Why the industry needs to do more to challenge myths around power, water and local impact

Tune in for a timely conversation on how power is shaping the future of data centre development, why flexibility and affordability matter, and how the industry can work more closely with grids and communities to support sustainable growth.

Support the show

The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.

To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect