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KEZAD Group said in a statement that it will organise the fourth edition of Touchdown Middle East in partnership with the Gulf Data Centre Association. The two-day conference is set for November 18 and 19 at a venue to be confirmed in Abu Dhabi. This will be the first time the annual data centre industry gathering takes place in the emirate.
The event will convene digital infrastructure leaders to examine operational challenges, investment trends and regulatory developments shaping the sector across the region. Earlier editions of Touchdown Middle East were staged in other Gulf states including Bahrain, according to organisers. The relocation to Abu Dhabi aligns with the emirate’s ambitions to strengthen its position in advanced technology and logistics.
A Mordor Intelligence report projected the Middle East data centre market to grow from 3.52 billion U.S. dollars in 2026 to 7.19 billion dollars by 2031 at a compound annual growth rate of 15.36 percent. The assessment highlighted sovereign funding, hyperscale capacity additions and cloud-first policies as primary drivers of expansion. Installed IT load capacity is forecast to rise from 1.99 thousand megawatts in 2026 to 3.07 thousand megawatts by 2031.
KEZAD Group said it operates the UAE’s largest integrated network of economic zones spanning more than 550 square kilometres. The company reported that its zones have attracted more than 18 billion dollars in foreign direct investment while generating total investments exceeding 45 billion dollars. These figures reflect KEZAD’s role as a key facilitator for trade, industry and technology projects in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
The host organisation forms part of AD Ports Group and manages 12 distinct economic zones that combine industrial real estate with multimodal transport links by sea, air, road and rail. Company information noted that the zones offer 100 percent foreign ownership and full profit repatriation alongside integrated business services. Such features position Abu Dhabi as an attractive destination for data centre developers seeking strategic locations with robust infrastructure.
Conference sessions are expected to address emerging topics such as artificial intelligence integration, energy efficiency and data sovereignty, according to the announcement. Delegates from across the data centre ecosystem will participate in panels, workshops and networking opportunities over the two days. The gathering aims to accelerate partnerships that support the sector’s projected expansion throughout the Gulf.
