Qatar's QIA and Blue Owl Capital Launch $3 Billion Global Data Center Venture

Qatar's Strategic Move into AI Infrastructure

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Blue Owl Capital Inc. have announced a groundbreaking partnership to establish a $3 billion global digital infrastructure platform focused on data centers. This collaboration marks a significant step in Qatar's ongoing efforts to position itself as a key player in the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector 1

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The $3 Billion Venture

The newly formed platform will launch with an impressive portfolio of over $3 billion in data center assets. According to sources familiar with the matter, QIA is committing approximately $1 billion in new equity to the venture 1

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. This substantial investment underscores the growing demand for computing power and data storage in the era of cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Accelerating Global Compute Capabilities

The primary objective of this partnership is to "accelerate global compute available to leading hyperscalers amid surging cloud and AI transformation," as stated in the joint announcement 2

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. By focusing on data centers, the platform aims to address the increasing need for robust digital infrastructure to support the rapid growth of AI technologies and cloud services.

QIA's Growing Interest in AI

This latest venture is part of a broader strategy by QIA, Qatar's $500 billion sovereign wealth fund, to increase its investments in the AI sector. The fund has been actively pursuing opportunities in this space, recognizing the potential for significant returns as global demand for data storage and computational requirements continues to rise 2

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Gulf Countries' AI Ambitions

The partnership between QIA and Blue Owl Capital reflects a larger trend among Gulf countries to establish themselves as global hubs for the AI industry outside of the United States. By investing in critical infrastructure and forming strategic partnerships, these nations are positioning themselves to play a crucial role in the future of artificial intelligence 2

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QIA's Recent AI Investments

In addition to this data center venture, QIA has recently made other significant moves in the AI space. Earlier this month, the fund emerged as one of the latest backers of Anthropic, an artificial intelligence firm. QIA participated in Anthropic's record-breaking $13 billion funding round, which valued the company at an impressive $183 billion 2

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