Phoenix Group PLC, a global digital infrastructure company and part of IHC’s portfolio, has partnered with DC Max to build its first AI data center in Europe. The new 18MW facility will be located in Lyon, France.
The project is the first step in Phoenix’s European Data Center Platform, which aims to build more than 1GW of combined AI and high-performance computing (HPC) capacity across Europe and the GCC region.
Phoenix said the expansion supports the UAE’s larger AI goals and reflects the country’s growing role in the global AI industry.
The Abu Dhabi-based company plans to use its experience and investment capabilities to help shape the future of AI infrastructure globally, rather than just participate in it.
“What we are announcing today is not an incremental step; it is a genuine inflection point for Phoenix and for what an Emirati company can achieve on the global stage. We are establishing a presence at the heart of European AI infrastructure, bringing the conviction and capital to build something that will compound in value for years to come. The 1GW ambition is not a ceiling; it is a starting point. I am proud that it is a company headquartered in Abu Dhabi that is leading this charge, and I believe this is precisely the kind of bold, global move that our shareholders, our partners, and the UAE’s own AI ambitions deserve.” Munaf Ali, Co-Founder and GCEO, Phoenix Group
“Phoenix brings exactly the kind of operational scale and capital discipline that French data center development has been waiting for. We have spent years identifying and securing the best power positions in this market, in Lyon and across France, and this partnership means we can now move on that pipeline at a pace and scale that would not have been possible independently. The demand is there. The sites are there. What this partnership adds is the ability to deliver.” Romain Fremont, CEO, DC Max
Phoenix Group PLC is a global digital infrastructure company based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). It is part of the IHC portfolio.
The company operates more than 550 MW of data center and computing capacity across regions including the UAE, Oman, North America, East Africa, and Europe.
Founded in 2017, Phoenix Group started with Bitcoin mining and built strong experience in managing large-scale energy and operations. Today, it uses that expertise to support AI and high-performance computing infrastructure around the world.
DC Max is a company that invests in, builds, and operates data centers. It manages a large portfolio of around 2 GW of capacity.
The company develops digital infrastructure ranging from small edge data centers to large campuses that support cloud services, AI, and high-performance computing.
Backed by a group with more than €6 billion in investment experience, DC Max combines strong financial discipline with technical expertise to deliver large-scale data center projects.
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