Batelco and Qareeb Join Forces to Launch Bahrain’s First Edge Data Centre
Batelco and Qareeb Data Centres have signed a strategic partnership to launch Bahrain’s first edge data centre, according to a statement issued on Tuesday (13 January 2026). As a result, the project shifts from completion to operational readiness.
The agreement was signed by Hani Askar, chief global business officer at Batelco, and Annemarie Van Zadelhoff, chief revenue officer at Qareeb Data Centres. Additionally, Batelco chief executive Maitham Abdulla and Qareeb chairman Bruce Jennings attended the signing.
Under the partnership, Qareeb will manage and operate its first edge data centre through a long-term lease of Batelco’s newly announced facility. In turn, Qareeb will provide sovereign, low-latency and AI-ready co-location services for enterprises, cloud service providers and digital platforms across the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Facility details and expansion goals
The companies said the agreement marks the transition of the project from completion to operational readiness. Moreover, they said it reflects Batelco’s strategy to extend its data infrastructure through collaboration with industry partners. At the same time, the focus remains on scalable and energy-efficient facilities that match evolving regional digital needs.
The data centre is located within Beyon’s Data Oasis in southern Bahrain. Notably, the companies described it as the first edge data centre of its kind in the kingdom. The facility offers 6,000 square metres of scalable space. Therefore, it aims to support enterprises and hyperscalers that need advanced hosting and connectivity solutions.
Leadership statements and regional impact
Askar said the partnership represents an important step in Batelco’s data centre strategy and its efforts to expand across key market segments. He said the new facility reflects Bahrain’s progress in digital transformation and that the collaboration aims to deliver secure, reliable and future-ready infrastructure for enterprise and government customers.
Van Zadelhoff said the facility is Qareeb Data Centres’ first operational data centre and represents a milestone for the company. She said the partnership will support the delivery of high-performance, scalable and sovereign edge co-location services for cloud providers, artificial intelligence developers and enterprise organisations across the Middle East.
The companies said the partnership supports Bahrain’s ambitions to strengthen its digital infrastructure. Furthermore, they said it reinforces the kingdom’s position as a regional hub for connectivity and innovation. Looking ahead, they added that the new data centre is expected to serve customers in Bahrain, across the Middle East, and in other markets.
