Global property consultancy Knight Frank released its latest EMEA Data Centres Report, revealing that the region’s data centre industry required more than US$560bn in development capital to fund its expanding pipeline, including US$162bn announced in the first half of 2025 alone.

The total value of operational data centre assets across EMEA reached over US$300bn, reflecting their income-generating capacity, and this figure was projected to grow by a further 11.4% in 2025.

Digital Demand Fuelled UAE Expansion

The Middle East continued to strengthen its position as a leading player in the global data centre ecosystem. In the UAE, live capacity surpassed 376MW, with a further 19.2MW due to come online in 2025. This growth had been driven by substantial investment as Dubai and Abu Dhabi positioned themselves as digital powerhouses for the region.

Among the headline projects, OpenAI designated Abu Dhabi as a site for its global ‘Stargate’ platform, while Microsoft and du confirmed plans for a US$544mn hyperscale facility in Dubai.

Government initiatives remained a major catalyst. Abu Dhabi’s Digital Strategy 2025–2027 represented a US$13bn programme mandating sovereign cloud adoption, digital transformation and AI deployment across more than 200 public-sector solutions.

Despite extensive development, capacity constraints persisted. Vacancy rates in the UAE stood at just 2.4%, underscoring strong demand from AI-driven and hyperscale operators establishing regional operations. A continued focus on sustainable data infrastructure pointed to further expansion, consolidating the UAE’s role as a strategic digital hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa.

Rapid Growth Across European Data Hubs

In Europe, Paris emerged as one of the fastest-growing hubs and a major source of capital demand, with funding requirements reaching about US$43bn and total supply increasing by 75.1% to almost 3.4GW. Frankfurt led leasing activity, with 207MW of take-up recorded in the past year, 159MW of which was completed within the last two quarters.

London remained the largest data centre market in EMEA, requiring roughly US$58bn in development capital and valued at about US$42bn.

Capacity Crunch Intensified

Supply struggled to keep up with soaring demand. The overall live colocation vacancy rate across EMEA stood at 9.5%, falling to 5.2% for requirements above 2MW and just 2.9% for those over 5MW. In the UAE (2.4%), Paris (3.4%) and London (5.9%), availability was already far below average.

Pre-leasing trends further tightened the market, with 55.2% of capacity under construction and 22.1% of committed capacity already pre-let. Dublin, Milan and London exemplified this imbalance, recording pre-leasing rates of 94.8%, 92.6% and 87.8%, respectively.

Constellation platform uses a simplified star architecture

CommScope, a global leader in network connectivity, has announced the global availability of its evolved SYSTIMAX Constellation edge-based power and connectivity platform.

The system, now compliant with nearly all global power and data transmission standards, integrates fault-managed power, hybrid power/data fiber, and Constellation Points (CPs) in a star topology capable of connecting hundreds or thousands of network devices and systems.

Unlike traditional structured cabling networks, the Constellation platform uses a simplified star architecture that is modular and technology-agnostic.

Supporting AC and DC power applications and a wide range of IT/OT connectivity standards, it eliminates the need for a telecom room or wiring closet on every floor. Instead, UPS equipment can be centralised, and CPs can be installed in ceilings, walls, or equipment racks, reducing component requirements while supporting both converged and segmented networks.

Aiding urban environments

The platform delivers greater power and faster speeds to more devices, reduces installation labour by more than 50% compared to traditional solutions, lowers space requirements, and decreases the network’s overall carbon footprint by using less plastic and copper. Constellation also extends service distances from equipment rooms and can deliver 10G and higher speeds with up to 1kW of fault-managed power to a wide range of connected devices, meeting the demands of increasingly dense urban environments.

“The Constellation platform enables our customers to support much denser urban centers and a proliferation of connected devices in their buildings,” said Luc Adriaenssens, VP, Building & Campus, CCS, CommScope. “By offering a modular, technology-agnostic solution, we’re giving our global customers more choices for building connectivity and power to the network edge—and helping them do it in a way that’s cost-effective, scalable and sustainable.”

Part of CommScope’s SYSTIMAX cabling and connectivity portfolio, the Constellation platform comprises Propel fiber panels, power transmitters, and power transition panels that connect to CPs via patented hybrid power/data fiber trunks. Devices are then linked using pre-terminated SYSTIMAX Cat 6A patch cords and cable assemblies.

The platform provides up to 1800W of power across AC, DC, and PoE systems for transmission distances of up to 250 m between equipment rooms and convergence points, up to 1000W for 500 m, and up to 700W for 1,000 m. Constellation supports 10G bandwidth (or higher with singlemode fiber), can accommodate up to 50 devices per CP, and delivers significant sustainability benefits, including up to a 57% reduction in skilled installation labour hours, 59% less copper, 65% less plastic, and a 40% reduction in overall network carbon footprint compared with traditional LAN solutions.

WEG’s Battery Energy Storage System. (Image source: WEG)

WEG, a global industrial equipment manufacturer, will showcase its latest technologies at ADIPEC 2025, held from 3-6 November at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Visitors can find WEG at Hall 11, Stand 11420.

Focusing on the energy transition, WEG will highlight solutions for hydrogen and alternative energy applications, supporting decarbonisation and electrification across industrial and utility-scale operations.

Key exhibits include WEG’s Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), modular and scalable systems designed to stabilise the grid and optimise energy use, addressing the challenges of intermittent renewable generation.

The W80 AXgen axial flux motor will also be featured, delivering up to 400 kW with IE5+ efficiency. Its compact, high-efficiency design incorporates advanced thermal management and liquid cooling, reducing emissions and lifecycle costs while offering flexibility for machine builders.

WEG will present its W51Xdb motor, engineered for oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors. The high-performance motor provides up to 800 kW output with a compact, lightweight design and is suitable for hazardous environments, available in IE3 and IE4 efficiency classes.

The company will also highlight coatings and industrial paint solutions, including products designed for offshore and corrosive environments, emphasising resilience and sustainability.

Mobility solutions under WEMOB, WEG’s portfolio for electric vehicle (EV) charging and infrastructure, will be on display, featuring AC and DC fast-charging stations to support the region’s growing e-mobility sector.

Finally, WEG’s digital offerings, including its Motion Fleet Management system for predictive maintenance, will be demonstrated, showcasing how advanced monitoring can improve efficiency and reliability across operations.

“ADIPEC is an ideal platform to demonstrate how WEG is responding to the global call for energy transformation,” said Raphael Torrano, managing director at WEG Middle East. “Whether it’s our next-generation motors, BESS or charging infrastructure, our technologies are designed to help our customers build a more sustainable future.”

Government participation is strong, highlighting the public sector’s role in promoting sustainable and innovative practices. (Image source: Big 5 Global)

The Big 5 Global Impact Awards has revealed 150 finalists across 19 categories, celebrating projects, organisations, and teams driving sustainable, collaborative, and technology-led achievements in urban development and construction.

Commenting on the announcement, Josine Heijmans, senior vice president at dmg events, said, “This year we have seen a remarkable 58% increase in entries from project owners, including key government authorities, alongside a 63% rise in new entrants across all categories. These figures underline the importance of Big 5 Global Impact Awards and highlight the industry’s commitment to sustainable development, innovation and collaboration.”

Finalists come from 21 countries, including Azerbaijan, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the UK, and the US, showing the awards’ global reach.

Government participation is strong, highlighting the public sector’s role in promoting sustainable and innovative practices. Among the finalists are the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, RTA Dubai, Dubai Municipality, Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Waste Management, County Government of Tana River, Fujairah Municipality, Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority, Ethiopian Electric Power, and Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey.

The Sustainable Initiative of the Year award, which received the highest number of entries, recognises initiatives with measurable impact, effective collaboration, and tangible outcomes aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Finalists include ITC Limited for Mainstreaming Energy Efficiency & Thermal Comfort, Soudah Development for the Soudah Cloud Forest Reforestation Programme, Msheireb Properties for Msheireb Downtown Doha, Almoosa Health for Almoosa Rehabilitation Hospital, and Orascom Construction for its Integrated ESG Excellence Program.

The Liveable City Initiative of the Year award recognises projects improving urban quality of life and social infrastructure. Finalists include Centum Real Estate for Two Rivers Social City, Concept Dash for Reclaiming the Edge – Public Realm Reimagined, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for Building Humanization Certification, and The Arab Contractors Company for the Greater Cairo Monorail.

Matthew Jackson, co-founder of ZERO Construct, said, “The calibre of submissions this year demonstrates encouraging progress... This shortlist proves what’s possible and sets a challenge for all of us to keep raising the bar if we are serious about building a resilient, inclusive and zero-carbon future. My congratulations to the projects and the teams who worked on them.”

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 25 November 2025 at Address Sky View, Downtown Dubai, with over 400 industry leaders, innovators, and government representatives expected to attend.

The awards are supported by Gold Sponsor Wurth Professional Services and Carbon Net-Zero Initiative of the Year Category Sponsor AGSI.