Lebanon's Gov't Plans to Transform Warehouse Into National Data Center

Why It Matters

A centralized, state‑owned data hub will improve government efficiency and support Lebanon’s broader digital and AI strategy amid economic challenges.

Key Takeaways

• Warehouse in Dekwaneh being repurposed as Lebanon’s national data center
• Touch telecoms to install equipment and consolidate Karantina, Sawwar sites
• AUB benchmark guides capacity, cost, and procurement decisions
• Project reduces reliance on leased facilities, cuts operational expenses
• Regional data‑center investments highlight growing demand for digital infrastructure

Pulse Analysis

Lebanon’s push to modernize its public‑sector IT infrastructure has taken a concrete step with the conversion of a former warehouse in Dekwaneh into a National Data Center. The country, still grappling with economic instability and limited private‑sector data‑center capacity, sees a centralized facility as essential for secure government workloads, cloud services, and emerging artificial‑intelligence applications. By consolidating existing sites and freeing state‑owned property from costly leases, the Ministry of Telecommunications aims to lay the groundwork for a resilient digital ecosystem that can support recovery and growth.

The project, overseen by Telecommunications Minister Charles Hajj and Touch CEO Karim Salim Salam, involves clearing unused equipment, installing new racks, and merging the Karantina and Sawwar data centers into a single, more efficient campus. Parallel to the physical build‑out, the American University of Beirut delivered a benchmarking study that evaluated optimal data‑center models, capacity needs, and projected investment levels. Those findings will shape procurement strategy, ensuring the new hub meets international standards while remaining financially viable for a cash‑strapped government. The timeline targets completion by late 2025.

Lebanon’s initiative mirrors a broader wave of national data‑center projects across Africa and the Middle East, where countries such as Chad, Benin and Saudi Arabia are committing hundreds of millions of dollars to similar infrastructure. A domestic data hub can lower operating costs, improve data sovereignty, and attract foreign tech firms seeking a stable platform. If executed effectively, the center could become a catalyst for digital services, e‑government expansion, and private‑sector innovation, positioning Lebanon to participate more competitively in the regional AI and cloud markets.