Capacity Middle East 2026: Your complete event guide

Welcoming executives carriers, hyperscalers, investors and innovators from around the globe, the three day event features high‑level strategic conversations, deep technical insight and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Attendees can expect a blend of keynotes, panel discussions, expert briefings and dedicated tracks such as Datacloud Middle East and Capacity Iraq Connect, each designed to tackle the most urgent industry trends.

Why the event matters

Over the past few years, the Middle East has emerged as a key player of global internet traffic and digital transformation.

With ongoing investments in AI‑ready infrastructure, data centres and subsea connectivity, the region is rapidly establishing itself as a global hub for innovation and connectivity.

Capacity Middle East 2026 captures this momentum by gathering the leaders driving that transformation.

Iraq: Re-emerging as a strategic connectivity hub

Iraq is currently undergoing a quiet but significant transformation, the country is now emerging as a strategic connectivity corridor between the Gulf, Turkey, Iran and Europe.

With growing demand for international bandwidth, government-backed digital initiatives and renewed investment in fibre infrastructure, Iraq is positioning itself as a vital link in regional and intercontinental networks.

At Capacity Middle East, Iraq takes centre stage as operators, policymakers and investors discuss cross-border fibre routes, regulatory reform, security challenges and long-term infrastructure planning.

AI driving demand for networks

Like last year’s events, AI will undoubtably be the main subject under discussion in Dubai this year.

As AI is rapidly changing how networks are built and used, applications such as generative AI and automation require more capacity, lower latency and stronger infrastructure.

As a result, the event will look at how AI is driving new investment in networks, edge computing, and cloud connectivity and what this means for operators and infrastructure providers.

Data centres sitting at the heart of AI deployment

The Middle East is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most dynamic data centre markets.

Hyperscale expansion, sovereign cloud strategies and enterprise digitalisation are driving demand across the Gulf and beyond.

Data centres now sit at the heart of national digital strategies and AI deployment.

At Capacity Middle East, data centres are discussed not as standalone assets, but as integral nodes within a broader connectivity ecosystem.

Topics include site selection, power and sustainability, subsea and terrestrial access, interconnection strategies and the evolving relationship between data centre operators and carriers.

Connectivity at the core

At the core of every theme lies connectivity. Subsea cables, terrestrial fibre, satellite and cloud are the invisible infrastructure powering everything.

As a result, Capacity Middle East brings the entire connectivity value chain together to address challenges such as route diversity, redundancy, geopolitics, pricing pressure and new business models.

What keynotes to expect?

The event kicks off with opening remarks from industry giants including du and e&, setting the tone for the days ahead.

Keynote panel: Capitalising on the Middle East’s digital boom through international connectivity

Speakers:

Location: Capacity Stage

This keynote panel brings together the region’s most influential digital infrastructure and connectivity executives to explore the most pressing topics.

With an ongoing boom in digital infrastructure, driven by AI and investment, connectivity providers have an unprecedented opportunity.

How are leading operators seizing this moment, and what risks do we need to be aware of?
How are executives evaluating the opportunities for investment across digital infrastructure? And which regions offer the greatest opportunities?
How is service evolution enhancing customer experience and unlocking new revenues?
What are the key challenges to unlocking continued growth, and how can we overcome them?

Keynote Panel: Beyond the Cloud: Building AI-Ready Infrastructure in the Middle East and beyond

Speakers:

Location: Datacloud Stage

As AI adoption accelerates across the Middle East, the demand for high-performance computing (HPC) is reshaping the data centre landscape. This panel explores how operators, governments, and hyperscalers are responding to the infrastructure, energy, and strategic challenges of building AI-ready facilities at scale. The panel discusses:

How are regional energy strategies and sustainability goals influencing the design and operation of HPC environments?
What role do partnerships between hyperscalers, governments, and local operators play in scaling AI infrastructure across the region?
How can the Middle East position itself as a global hub for AI and HPC innovation, and what are the risks of falling behind?
How can stakeholders ensure long-term ROI while navigating rapid technological change, regulatory pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty?

Keynote panel: How are we delivering the infrastructure required to meet the demands of economic transformation through AI and advanced use cases?

Speakers:

Location: Capacity Stage

The demands of the region’s economic transformation plans on digital infrastructure are immense, from the massive data centre investment needed for AI to the low-latency connectivity needed for autonomous vehicles. All of this requires world-leading fibre networks. To deliver on these ambitious plans, the entire digital infrastructure ecosystem must invest and collaborate.

What scale of infrastructure is required to meet demands in key markets? And is the industry ready?
What are hyperscalers and leading AI providers looking for from connectivity and digital infrastructure operators?
How clear is the investment case for AI infrastructure investment? Or do we need to better demonstrate the potential ROI?

Register for Capacity Middle East 2026 HERE