Hussain Sajwani pledges $27.3 billion for US data centres, igniting debate over foreign investment

In recent developments, billionaire Hussain Sajwani announced plans to invest at least US$20 billion in building new data centres across the United States. This announcement was made during a press conference held on January 7, 2025, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. This investment is part of a larger strategy to enhance the country’s technological infrastructure, targeting regions such as Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. The investment is seen as crucial in maintaining the U.S.'s competitiveness in both technology and artificial intelligence fields. Sajwani, the head of Damac Group, a real estate company, is known for his longstanding business relationship with former President Donald Trump, which dates back nearly a decade. The two previously collaborated on luxury golf courses in Dubai, creating a partnership celebrated across various announcements and press releases. Sajwani referred to himself as “Trump’s Middle Eastern business partner” and is leveraging this connection to secure substantial investments, asserting that his company would commit more than US$20 billion depending on the market dynamics. Trump highlighted the significance of this investment at the press conference, noting the necessity for such data centres in contemporary technology landscapes and how they will be integral to the organizational goals of modern businesses. He pledged to facilitate the project by expediting the environmental and permitting processes, reinforcing his administration's commitment to fostering infrastructure and job creation in the U.S. The announcement generated considerable attention from both domestic and international business leaders, many of whom are eager to collaborate with Trump as he transitions into office. Additionally, this investment scheme forms a part of a more extensive push into the data centre industry, with Edgnex Data Centres, a subsidiary of Sajwani’s Damac, planning to invest US$3 billion over the next three to five years to construct data centres in Southeast Asia, specifically targeting Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. This dual investment strategy illustrates Sajwani's aspirations to capitalize on emerging data technology markets while also significantly contributing to the U.S. economy. The outcome of these developments will not only affect the logistics and functioning of data services in the U.S. but also reflect broader trends in international business relations under the new administration.