The city of Dakhla is taking a strategic turn towards innovation and sustainability. Last Friday, the Ministries of Energy Transition and Digital Transition launched two major projects: the Green Data Center “Igoudar Dakhla,” powered exclusively by renewable energy, and the Jazari Institute, dedicated to artificial intelligence and energy transition. These infrastructures aim to transform the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region into a national and African center of excellence, combining energy and digital sovereignty.
The Green Data Center Igoudar represents a strategic advancement for Morocco. With an unprecedented capacity of 500 MW, it will provide data storage and high-performance computing services while creating high-value jobs and reducing the carbon footprint of the digital sector through the exclusive use of clean energy. Announced last July during the National Artificial Intelligence Forum, it symbolizes the Kingdom’s ambition to strengthen its digital sovereignty and solidify its position as an African digital hub.
Meanwhile, the Jazari Institute aims to train the talents of tomorrow and bridge research with the real economy. “We will quickly launch, in collaboration with the university, researchers, and startups, a series of calls for expressions of interest to develop innovative projects focused on R&D, in order to design locally exportable solutions for regional and international markets,” specified Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, the Minister Delegate for Digital Transition. The Institute aims to produce smart solutions in energy management, placing humans and knowledge at the heart of development.
These initiatives align with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the southern provinces, transforming Dakhla-Oued Eddahab into a pioneering platform for renewable energies, big data, and artificial intelligence. “The region has exceptional capacities in renewable energies and infrastructure. The Dakhla Atlantic port also plays a key role in connectivity,” reminded Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development. She emphasized that the complementarity between energy and digital transitions paves the way for a new model of jobs and investments, more ambitious and faster than ever.
The African and strategic dimension of these projects is also highlighted. The Jazari Institute Dakhla and the Green Data Center are designed as Moroccan infrastructures with regional potential, capable of carrying innovation, training, and technology beyond borders. Dakhla thus becomes a strong symbol of accelerated development and renewed ambition for Morocco, where energy and digital transitions converge to create a sustainable and integrated model.
At the same time, the fifth edition of the MD Sahara Forum, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Green March, underscored the historical anchoring and vision of progress for the southern provinces. Officials, experts, and partners gathered on this occasion emphasized the continuity of the spirit of the Green March: unity, development, and openness to Africa.
These projects illustrate that Dakhla is no longer just a strategic point on the map, but a true national and African laboratory for innovation, clean technologies, and artificial intelligence, capable of training talents and exporting solutions.