Abu Dhabi’s Zero Two has entered the Southeast Asian market by taking a co-controlling stake in Evolution Data Centres, based in Singapore, the Abu Dhabi Media Office reported on Tuesday.
Deal Specifics
The acquisition will supply long-term capital to speed up the deployment of hyperscale-ready data centres in strategically important Southeast Asian countries.
Neither the size of the stake nor the value of the deal has been made public.
ADQ-backed Zero Two will share control with New York’s Warburg Pincus, which invested in Evolution in 2022 through a joint venture.
Since then, Evolution—known for sustainable data centre operations—has expanded its portfolio to include sites in Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. All facilities are to be powered by renewable energy under Power Purchase Agreements.
Andrew Fitzpatrick, Principal at Warburg Pincus, said the Southeast Asian market has substantial potential for growth in modern, large-scale data centre capacity, fuelled by the increasing adoption of cloud and AI services. He added that Evolution’s capabilities, combined with strong investor and partner support, make it a leading early mover in sustainable operations.
The acquisition underscores a growing trend among UAE businesses to expand into Asia’s high-growth markets, seeking to diversify revenue sources, cater to the surge in cloud and AI demand, and deepen global economic ties.
With its fast-developing economies and shortage of advanced data infrastructure, Southeast Asia offers attractive prospects for scalable and energy-efficient investments.
Crucial Quote
“Evolution’s strong market positioning and leading execution capabilities make it a compelling fit for Zero Two’s long-term capital deployment strategy,” said Ahmed Al Hameli, CEO of Zero Two.
Big Number
Zero Two has already deployed over 550 MW of gross data centre capacity in Abu Dhabi.
Regional Data Centre Landscape
Southeast Asia’s market consists of 513 facilities managed by 162 operators, with Facebook’s Singapore-based Tanjong Kling site being the largest at 120 MW.
Other UAE Data Centre Developments
EDGNEX Data Centres by DAMAC recently finalised plans to acquire Nordic facilities, expanding its reach in March. The company operates across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, and earlier announced a USD 20 billion plan to build data centres in the United States.
In December, EDGNEX bought land in Madrid for a 22,000-square-metre, 40 MW facility set to open in 2026, located near Madrid International Airport and the Internet Exchange.
That same month, EDGNEX and Greece’s PPC Group formed the USD 157 million Data In Scale joint venture in Spata, Athens.
