Iraq-UAE $700M Data Cable
Analysis based on 6 articles · First reported Feb 16, 2026 · Last updated Feb 17, 2026
The WorldLink project, a $700 million subsea-and-terrestrial data cable linking the United Arab Emirates to Turkey via Iraq, is expected to enhance regional connectivity and support AI infrastructure. This development, alongside Saudi Arabia's SilkLink project in Syria, signifies a competitive push among Gulf nations to become data hubs, potentially increasing investment in the telecommunications and technology sectors across the Middle East.
An Iraqi-Emirati consortium, including Tech 964, DIL Technologies, and PKS Investments, plans a $700 million subsea-and-terrestrial data cable project named WorldLink. This cable will link the United Arab Emirates to Turkey via Iraq's Faw peninsula, aiming to ease congestion and reduce transit times compared to traditional routes through the Egypt — Suez Canal. The project, privately funded and expected to take four to five years, targets hyperscalers, international carriers, and AI applications. This initiative comes shortly after Saudi Arabia and Syria announced their own $1 billion fiber-optic network project, SilkLink, which aims to rehabilitate Syria's infrastructure and position it as a data route between Asia and Europe. Both projects highlight a regional competition among Gulf neighbors, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, to become hubs for AI infrastructure and connectivity.
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