10/19/2026

Saudi Arabia Calls for Sustainable GCC Digital Connectivity and Sovereign Computing to Strengthen Global Competitiveness

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia called for sustainable digital connectivity among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the integration of computing capabilities that safeguard data sovereignty and enable Gulf companies to compete globally. The call aims to strengthen GCC integration in the age of artificial intelligence and transform the member states’ technological and economic capabilities into a collective force that supports their global leadership.
 The call came during the Kingdom’s address delivered by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha at the 30th Meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Post and Telecommunications, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
 Alswaha affirmed that, under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Kingdom is working alongside its brotherly GCC member states to strengthen Gulf integration through three pillars: advancing from digital resilience to AI leadership; integrating energy and computing capabilities while safeguarding data sovereignty; and building common markets for entrepreneurship to enhance global competitiveness.
 He explained that the Kingdom has leveraged its capabilities and infrastructure to support the continuity of data traffic and telecommunications across GCC member states by adding more than 8.4 terabits per second (Tbps) of international capacity and increasing overall capacity by approximately 80% to reach 18 Tbps. He noted that Saudi Arabia had submitted a proposal to the GCC General Secretariat and the country holding the rotating presidency to establish sustainable digital interconnectivity, modeled on the GCC electricity interconnection, to embed digital resilience within a shared and sustainable Gulf framework.
 On energy and computing integration, he stated that the Kingdom has made available a range of sites and 14 gigawatts (GW) of power capacity for data centers serving Saudi Arabia, GCC member states, the wider region, and the world. He called for the development of a sustainable model for cooperation in data centers.
 Alswaha emphasized the importance of opening markets and harmonizing standards and specifications for Gulf companies, enabling them to move beyond regional competition and compete globally. He noted that GCC member states are home to more than 20 unicorn companies and account for approximately 95% of venture capital investment in the region, reflecting the significant opportunities available for entrepreneurship and innovation.
 He stressed that the next phase requires GCC member states to operate as one integrated Gulf ecosystem across data, computing, cloud services, and artificial intelligence, while developing interconnected infrastructure that enables citizens and businesses to access and benefit from these services efficiently and seamlessly across the GCC.
 Alswaha concluded by emphasizing that connecting and integrating existing capabilities will form the foundation for strengthening the GCC countries’ ability to compete globally.