AESG has announced the expansion of its Mission Critical division, strengthening its capabilities to deliver fully integrated, multidisciplinary design services for data centres across the region.
The move builds on the company’s track record of delivering 27 data centre projects globally and positions it to support clients throughout the entire project lifecycle, from early advisory stages to commissioning. The expansion comes amid rapid growth in the GCC data centre sector, which is projected to rise from around US$3.5bn in 2024 to US$9.4bn by 2030.
AESG’s strategy centres on addressing persistent challenges in mission critical infrastructure delivery, particularly cost overruns and schedule delays that affect a significant proportion of projects. By integrating disciplines such as MEP, structural engineering, cost management, sustainability and commissioning within a single team, the firm aims to improve coordination and ensure buildability from the outset.
This approach enables earlier identification of design conflicts, tighter budget control and continuous validation throughout development, reducing risks typically encountered in later project stages. The company believes this integrated model is essential as data centre projects become more complex, particularly with the rise of AI-driven workloads.
Power availability remains a key constraint across the region, with grid connection timelines in some markets extending up to three years. AESG is addressing this challenge by incorporating grid feasibility assessments at the concept stage, alongside the design of substations and exploration of hybrid energy solutions such as solar combined with battery storage. Established relationships with authorities in markets including United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are also helping to provide early insight into infrastructure capacity.
Sustainability continues to play a central role in the firm’s approach. With data centres accounting for increasing levels of energy and water consumption, AESG is applying its net zero expertise to improve efficiency. Advanced modelling techniques, including computational fluid dynamics, are being used to optimise cooling systems and reduce power usage effectiveness, an increasingly important metric for hyperscale operators.
The expanded division will be led by newly appointed Commercial Director Steve Liong and Head of Mission Critical Ferruh Ertekin, who together bring more than three decades of experience in delivering complex infrastructure projects across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Liong has extensive regional experience across the MENA market, having worked on projects ranging from concept design through to final delivery of facilities with capacities between 30MW and 50MW. Ertekin, a chartered engineer, has led the development of large-scale data centre campuses and power infrastructure projects, including hyperscale and colocation facilities.
Looking ahead, AESG plans to scale its mission critical capabilities across its offices in the Middle East, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The company is also investing in advanced solutions such as on-site power generation to support projects in grid-constrained environments.
With demand for cloud services, AI infrastructure and digital transformation accelerating, AESG’s expanded offering is aimed at delivering resilient, future-ready data centre solutions tailored to evolving market needs.
AESG expands data centre division across GCC markets
