xAI’s first data center outside the US will be built in Saudi Arabia

Saudi communications minister Abdullah Alswaha said at LEAP that xAI’s first data center outside the United States will be built in the Kingdom, starting at 50 megawatts and designed to expand to 500 megawatts. xAI, the maker of Grok, had previously signed a framework agreement with Humain, the Public Investment Fund-backed AI company, to design and operate large computing centers and deploy Grok across Saudi Arabia. A facility like this is the expensive physical engine of modern AI: it brings together vast numbers of specialized chips and the power needed to train and run models. The confirmation means Saudi Arabia is the planned home of xAI’s first data center outside the US, though no site or operating date was announced.