On the sidelines of Gateway Gulf 2025, stc Bahrain and center3 announced significant progress on two of the Kingdom’s largest transformative ICT infrastructure projects: the 2Africa Pearls Submarine Cable and the Bahrain Data Center Park.
Supported by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), this progress highlights Bahrain’s advanced position as a regional digital hub. The two projects represent a total investment of USD 320 million, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
The initiatives will contribute to enhancing Bahrain’s digital economy, supporting regional and international connectivity, and enabling sustainable, innovation-driven energy efficiency.
The 2Africa Pearls Submarine Cable, part of the world’s largest submarine cable system, connects 33 countries through 46 landing stations, including recent ones in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Alkhobar in Saudi Arabia. Additional landing stations in Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are expected by the end of 2025, with full operational readiness targeted for the third quarter of 2026. Once operational, the system will deliver massive data capacity, lower latency, and improve network resilience, directly linking Bahrain to global digital markets and enhancing its long-term connectivity strategy.
Meanwhile, work is steadily progressing on the Bahrain Data Center Park, now more than 65 percent complete. The project serves as a key regional hub for cloud computing and hyperscale services, providing advanced infrastructure that supports enterprise digital transformation, strengthens data sovereignty, and drives sustainable energy efficiency in line with Bahrain’s climate goals.