Foreword 3

Executive summary 4

Introduction: The stakes – why MENA must act now 5

1 The foundation: Sustainability as an enabler of infrastructure scalability 8

  1.1 The paradox: Reframing scale vs. sustainability 8

  1.2 A matter of power: The three pillars 9

  1.3 The foundation: Resource–intelligence nexus and  the MENA context 10

  1.4 The compounding cost of unsustainable growth 12

2 Physical realities: What infrastructure requires 13

  2.1 Energy dynamics: The volatile nature of AI workloads 13

  2.2 Grid strains: Connection, capacity and reliance 14

  2.3 Climate constraints: Extreme heat and water scarcity 16

  2.4 Cooling needs and opportunities 17

  2.5 Regulatory complexity 17

3 Optimization pathways: How to build sustainably 18

  3.1 Strategic principles: From legacy to sustainable nexus 19

  3.2 Energy optimization strategies 22

  3.3 Water and cooling management 26

  3.4 Regulatory and institutional frameworks 28

Conclusion 31

Contributors 32

Endnotes 33