Abu Dhabi’s Phoenix Group, DC Max Partner to Develop 18MW AI Data Center in Lyon, France
Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026, with completion targeted between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the first quarter of 2028.
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Abu Dhabi-headquartered Phoenix Group PLC, an IHC portfolio company and global digital infrastructure operator, has partnered with French data center developer DC Max to develop its first European AI data center, an 18-megawatt (MW) facility in Lyon, France.
The project marks the inaugural deployment of Phoenix’s European Data Center Platform, targeting more than 1GW of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) capacity across Europe and the GCC, with an estimated value of US$8 billion.
Phoenix said it has acquired the land for the project, with permits secured and grid connection and power availability in place. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026, with completion targeted between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the first quarter of 2028.
“We have spent years identifying and securing the best power positions in this market, in Lyon and across France, and this partnership means we can now move on that pipeline at a pace and scale that would not have been possible independently,” Romain Fremont, CEO at DC Max said. “The demand is there. The sites are there.”
Under the partnership, DC Max will provide expertise in site origination, permitting, and grid access, while Phoenix contributes capital and operational scale.
The project adds to Phoenix’s existing 550MW of deployed capacity across the UAE, Oman, North America, and Ethiopia.
Abu Dhabi-headquartered Phoenix Group PLC, an IHC portfolio company and global digital infrastructure operator, has partnered with French data center developer DC Max to develop its first European AI data center, an 18-megawatt (MW) facility in Lyon, France.
The project marks the inaugural deployment of Phoenix’s European Data Center Platform, targeting more than 1GW of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) capacity across Europe and the GCC, with an estimated value of US$8 billion.
Phoenix said it has acquired the land for the project, with permits secured and grid connection and power availability in place. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026, with completion targeted between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the first quarter of 2028.
