Client: NEOM, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Sector: Smart City / Hyperscale Infrastructure
Service: End-to-End Data Center Consulting
Business Challenge
As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, NEOM is being developed as one of the world’s most advanced smart cities — driven by AI, IoT, and autonomous systems. The foundation for this vision required a hyperscale-grade digital infrastructure capable of supporting multi-cloud operations, high-density computing, and massive data throughput.
The challenge was to conceptualize and implement a vendor-neutral, scalable, and energy-efficient data center ecosystem from the ground up, meeting Tier III–IV international standards while aligning with NEOM’s sustainability and smart-city objectives.
Solution
Flint International was commissioned as NEOM’s end-to-end Data Center Consulting Partner, responsible for technical planning, architectural validation, and strategic advisory across all stages — from greenfield feasibility to commissioning.
Our engagement covered:
- Feasibility and Site Readiness: Environmental, geotechnical, and utility assessments to define optimal site conditions for hyperscale deployment.
- Design and Standards Definition: Creation of detailed design frameworks and functional specifications in alignment with Uptime Institute Tier III–IV and TIA-942 standards.
- Vendor-Neutral Evaluation: Establishment of a multi-vendor architecture model supporting modular scalability and interoperability across power, cooling, and network layers.
- Engineering Design Review: Technical validation of design blueprints and constructability assessments for mechanical, electrical, and ICT systems.
- Commissioning Support: Continuous consulting through construction, integration, and operational readiness to ensure adherence to compliance, redundancy, and PUE benchmarks.
Solution Implementation Process
The engagement followed a structured three-phase consulting model, ensuring complete lifecycle coverage:
Phase 1 – Concept & Strategy Definition
Feasibility studies, environmental due diligence, and site readiness evaluations to define baseline parameters for power density, redundancy, and modular expansion.
Phase 2 – Architecture & Design Validation
Definition of design standards, operational workflows, and physical-to-logical integration frameworks. Vendor evaluation and proof-of-concept sessions ensured neutrality and alignment with sustainability goals.
Phase 3 – Implementation & Operational Readiness
Design validation, QA/QC oversight, and commissioning audit support. Flint acted as NEOM’s extended technology office, ensuring flawless transition from blueprint to build.
Customer Benefits
- World-Class Hyperscale Blueprint: A scalable, modular data center design enabling rapid deployment and multi-zone redundancy.
- Vendor Independence: Neutral architecture ensuring flexibility and long-term cost efficiency.
- Operational Excellence: Alignment with global best practices for uptime, security, and energy optimization.
- Future-Ready Infrastructure: Robust foundation to host AI workloads, cloud-native services, and national-scale digital applications.
Result:
Flint’s strategic and technical leadership enabled NEOM to establish a next-generation digital infrastructure that underpins its smart city ambitions — setting new regional benchmarks in hyperscale design, efficiency, and resilience.
