The Gulf wants to break free from the world’s data chokepoints

Amid geopolitical instability, Gulf countries are engaging in a parallel infrastructure race driven by AI ambitions to secure data flow. Currently, over 90% of Europe–Asia data traffic passes through the Suez Canal region. To bypass chokepoints, UAE, Saudi, and Qatar are building alternative routes, such as Ooredoo Group's Fibre in the Gulf (FIG) system, which aims to link six GCC states and Iraq.