Abu Dhabi-headquartered Phoenix Group PLC has announced a strategic partnership with French data center developer DC Max to build its first European AI data center, an 18-megawatt facility in Lyon, France.

The deal gives Phoenix preferential access to DC Max's development pipeline of over one gigawatt of opportunities, valued at an estimated USD 8 billion, as the company pursues a target of more than 1GW of combined AI and high-performance computing capacity across Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Lyon as the Launch Point

Phoenix has already acquired the land for the Lyon site, which comes with secured permits, an established grid connection, and available power. Those conditions are expected to allow construction to begin in July 2026, with delivery targeted between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the first quarter of 2028.

The choice of Lyon reflects specific characteristics the company identified in the French market. France's second-largest city combines a strong industrial base and robust electrical infrastructure with land costs that are described as significantly lower than those in Paris.

DC Max's existing grid access and permitting relationships are cited as factors that allow the partnership to advance more quickly than typical European development timelines, which traditionally run between 36 and 48 months.

The Lyon facility will be developed as an AI-ready data center, targeting enterprise and hyperscaler customers who are already reserving capacity years in advance across European markets where demand for AI compute is outpacing supply.

Structure of the Partnership

The agreement between Phoenix and DC Max is framed as a repeatable development model rather than a one-off transaction. DC Max contributes what the companies describe as deep expertise in site origination, permitting, and grid access, backed by a group with more than USD 7 billion in investment experience.

Phoenix brings capital and operational scale developed through its existing 550 megawatts of deployed capacity across the UAE, Oman, North America, and Ethiopia.

DC Max holds a portfolio of approximately two gigawatts of capacity and delivers digital infrastructure ranging from edge facilities to large campuses supporting cloud, AI, and high-performance computing.

The Lyon project represents the first deployment under what Phoenix is calling its European Data Center Platform, a scalable framework designed to deliver AI-ready capacity across key European markets.

Romain Fremont, CEO of DC Max, said the partnership provides the ability to move on the company's existing pipeline at a pace and scale that would not have been possible independently.

"We have spent years identifying and securing the best power positions in this market, in Lyon and across France, and this partnership means we can now move on that pipeline at a pace and scale that would not have been possible independently," Fremont said. "The demand is there. The sites are there. What this partnership adds is the ability to deliver."

Phoenix's Global Platform

Phoenix Group PLC is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange under the ticker PHX and is an IHC portfolio company. Founded in 2017, the company built its operational foundation through Bitcoin mining before redirecting those capabilities toward AI and high-performance computing infrastructure. It now operates more than 550 megawatts of capacity across the UAE, Oman, North America, East Africa, and Europe.

The European expansion is positioned by the company as a direct extension of the UAE's national AI ambitions. Munaf Ali, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Phoenix Group, described the announcement as an inflection point for both the company and for what an Emirati company can achieve globally.

"We are establishing a presence at the heart of European AI infrastructure, bringing the conviction and capital to build something that will compound in value for years to come," Ali said at the signing ceremony held alongside DC Max Chairman Matthias Luecker. "The 1GW ambition is not a ceiling; it is a starting point."

Ali also framed the move in terms of the UAE's broader strategic interests, describing it as the kind of bold global move that the company's shareholders, partners, and the country's AI ambitions deserve. Phoenix's stated goal is to ensure that regionally headquartered operators are active shapers, rather than spectators, of the global AI economy.

Scale and Timeline

The 18MW Lyon facility is the first step in a platform that the two companies are targeting for over 1GW of total capacity. The $8 billion figure represents the estimated value of DC Max's existing pipeline of opportunities, to which Phoenix now has preferential access under the terms of the partnership.

Further announcements related to the European Data Center Platform are expected during 2026. The partnership sits alongside Phoenix's existing global operations as the company works toward its stated ambition of becoming a scaled global digital infrastructure operator.

Europe's Data Center Pipeline Is Moving Fast. Is Your Intelligence Keeping Up?

Across Europe, the race to build next-generation data center infrastructure is accelerating at a pace that leaves little room for missed opportunities. Whether you are a developer, contractor, investor, or equipment supplier, the window to position yourself on the right projects is narrower than ever, and acting on outdated information can cost you far more than a lost bid.

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