Lebanon Plans to Convert Warehouse into National Data Center Amid Digital Transformation Push
April 24, 2026
Lebanon Plans to Convert Warehouse into National Data Center Amid Digital Transformation Push
Lebanon’s government is moving forward with plans to transform a warehouse north of Beirut into a National Data Center, a project aimed at consolidating state IT infrastructure and reducing reliance on leased facilities. The initiative, reported by Lebanese news agency Akhbar al Yawm, marks a significant step in the country’s long-delayed digital transformation agenda.
Telecommunications Minister Charles Hajj recently visited the facility in Dekwaneh alongside Karim Salim Salam, chief executive of telecom operator Touch, to assess progress on equipment installations and site rehabilitation. The project involves relocating and merging the existing Karantina and Sawwar data centers into a single, state-owned facility to improve operational efficiency and asset management, according to the news agency.
Hajj urged Touch to optimize the use of available space within the warehouse and accelerate the digitization of old documents and archives. Unused equipment and materials are currently being cleared from the site as part of the broader rehabilitation effort. The project aligns with the Ministry of Telecommunications’ policy to leverage state-owned properties and cut spending on leased infrastructure.
In a parallel development, the American University of Beirut (AUB) last week presented the results of a national data center benchmarking exercise to Lebanon’s Ministry of State for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence (MITAI). The exercise, conducted under a recently signed memorandum of understanding between AUB and MITAI, was designed to address critical questions for national digital planning, including the most suitable data center model for Lebanon and the projected costs of implementation.
Dr. Fadi El-Jardali, managing director and co-lead of AUB’s Government Engagement Platform, emphasized the importance of forward planning despite the country’s ongoing challenges. “Despite the challenges, the team remained committed to delivering this output. This reflects a shared conviction that while crises may persist, they should not delay our preparedness for what comes next,” he said. “The work presented today contributes to laying the foundations needed to position Lebanon on the digital and AI landscape.”
The benchmarking findings are expected to inform national decisions on data center strategy, capacity planning, investment priorities, and procurement models aligned with international standards. However, Lebanon currently has a minimal data center market, with only two facilities in the country, both operated by LFAIT, according to DataCenterMap. The nation remains embroiled in regional instability, including the ongoing conflict with Iran, though it is currently under a ten-day ceasefire with Israel. Reports of explosions and attacks persist despite the truce.
The push for a national data center mirrors broader trends across the Middle East and Africa. In Saudi Arabia, ground was recently broken on a massive government data center project in Riyadh, set to span 30 million square feet. In West Africa, countries including Benin, Mali, and Burkina Faso have begun investing in similar initiatives, while Chad has announced plans to invest $204.7 million in developing a national data center and expanding its fiber optic networks. These developments underscore a growing recognition that centralized government data infrastructure is critical for digital sovereignty and public sector modernization.
Source: datacenterdynamics
