Oxagon (Oxagon) — the floating industrial city in the NEOM project — is writing a new chapter in the history of global ports. It’s not just a port, but the world’s first fully digital port that thinks and decides using artificial intelligence. In July 2026, NEOM announced a strategic partnership with DataVolt to build a massive 1.5 gigawatt data center inside Oxagon, serving as the “digital brain” that manages the port and the entire industrial city using artificial intelligence.
🧠 What does “a thinking port” mean?
Traditional ports operate with scheduled and human-based systems: ship schedules, cranes operated manually or with simple automation, and human decisions for storage and distribution. Oxagon’s port is radically different:
- Centralized artificial intelligence: A single system manages the movement of ships, cranes, trucks, warehouses, and energy — all communicating in a unified data language.
- Demand forecasting: Algorithms predict the arrival of ships, types of goods, and optimal distribution routes days in advance.
- AI-managed green energy: The port operates 100% on renewable energy (solar + wind + green hydrogen), with AI dynamically balancing the electrical load in real time.
- Predictive maintenance: Sensors on all port equipment send real-time data to the AI, which predicts failures before they occur and automatically schedules preventive maintenance.
The result: Traditional ports operate at 60-70% efficiency, while Oxagon aims for 95%+.
🇸🇦 Why is Oxagon particularly important for Saudi Arabia?
1. Strategic location connecting 3 continents
Oxagon is located on the Red Sea, at the crossroads of trade between Asia, Europe, and Africa. 13% of global trade passes through the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia is transforming this corridor into a smart port that reduces waiting times from days to hours.
2. Vision 2030: Economic diversification
Clean industries and smart logistics are key targets of the Vision. Oxagon is attracting industries such as: green hydrogen, clean petrochemicals, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and cloud computing.
3. A 1.5 gigawatt data center = massive computing power
The partnership with DataVolt (February 2026) is building one of the largest AI data centers in the region. This center will not only serve the port but also all of NEOM and export computational capabilities globally. Saudi Arabia is becoming a source of artificial intelligence, not just a consumer.
4. Localizing technology
The project employs Saudi talent in: AI engineering, industrial IoT (IIoT), industrial cybersecurity, and big data management. The Code 9 66 program and initiatives like SDAIA support this path.
🔑 Key points to summarize the topic
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Neom, Tabuk, Red Sea Coast — 48 km² |
| Type | Floatable industrial city + smart digital port |
| Energy | 100% renewable (sun + wind + green hydrogen) |
| Digital Brain | DataVolt data center with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts |
| Target Sectors | Green hydrogen, clean petrochemicals, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, cloud computing |
| 2026 Status | Port partially operational, data center under construction, green hydrogen factories in advanced stages |
| Operating Parties | Neom (PIF) + global partners (DataVolt, BESIX, etc.) |
🖼️ Illustrative Images
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who Needs Oxagon Services / Who Benefits from Them?
Global companies that want to manufacture using clean technologies and export to the world, logistics companies that require speed and reliability, developers of artificial intelligence and cloud solutions that need close and affordable renewable energy sources, and investors in green hydrogen and biotechnology.
Where is Oxagon Located and Where are its Technologies Used?
In Neom, Tabuk Region, Northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea coast. Its technologies are applied within the port (ship management, cranes, warehouses), in factories (predictive maintenance, production optimization), and in the data center (training AI models, green cloud computing).
What is the Cost of Investing in Oxagon / What is the Project Cost?
The entire Neom project is $500 billion (Public Investment Fund + partners). Oxagon is part of it — announced investments: DataVolt data center for $5 billion, a green hydrogen factory for $8.4 billion (NEOM-Green Hydrogen Company-ACWA Power-Air Products partnership), and infrastructure contracts worth billions of dollars. The total cost of Oxagon alone is estimated to be tens of billions.
How Long Does the Construction and Full Operation Phase Take?
The port has started operational activities partially, and the construction of the data center and green hydrogen factories is in advanced stages, with the goal of completing the project in several years, aligning with the overall Neom project timeline, which aims for completion by 2030.
Section 2024-2025. Data Center starts gradual operation 2027-2028. Major factories (green hydrogen) start commercial production 2026-2027. The full industrial city targets full readiness by 2030 as part of Vision 2030.
How to start / How to invest or participate in OXAGON?
- Companies: Contact the NEOM Investment Team via the official website neom.com — it includes an investor and partnership portal.
- Saudi talents: Apply to programs such as CODE (Digital Entrepreneurship Center), SDAIA, Human Capability Development Program — which include pathways for employment in NEOM.
- Entrepreneurs: Incubator programs like CODE NINE 66 for gaming, and NEOM’s industrial innovation programs support startups in clean and smart technologies.
📌 Summary
OXAGON is not just an infrastructure project — it is a “smart platform” that manufactures and exports intelligence. Saudi Arabia is transforming its geographical location into a competitive technological advantage: a thinking port, factories powered by green hydrogen, and a data center fueling the artificial intelligence revolution across the region and the world. If you are interested in the future of technology in Saudi Arabia, OXAGON is the destination to watch closely.
Keywords: OXAGON, NEOM, smart port, artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia, digital transformation, clean industry, data center
