Naver announced plans to build a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Morocco in partnership with Nvidia and other global firms, marking a major expansion into the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.
According to reports from Sedaily and Naver, the South Korean tech giant will form a consortium with Nvidia, AI infrastructure specialist Nexus Core Systems, and global investment firm Lloyds Capital to launch the project. The first phase of construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The initiative aims to establish a 500MW, renewable energy-powered AI data center in Morocco, designed to deliver sovereign AI computing services across the EMEA region. Moreover, geographic proximity played a critical role in selecting Morocco as the site. Located just 15km from mainland Europe and connected via multiple subsea fiber optic cables, the country offers strategic access to EMEA markets and robust digital infrastructure potential.
To secure stable energy resources for the energy-intensive data hub, the consortium has signed a long-term renewable power supply agreement with TAQA, a leading energy company in the region.
The platform will be jointly operated by Naver Cloud, Nexus Core Systems, and Lloyds Capital. Significantly, the data center is being designed to meet the growing demand for data sovereignty in the EMEA region. It will feature sovereign cloud infrastructure, allowing all data processing, storage, and operational activities to be handled locally, without dependence on foreign servers or jurisdictions.
Naver described the project as a strategic turning point in its international expansion. The company has already built a presence in the Middle East, including a digital twin platform in Saudi Arabia, and is now setting its sights on Europe through this high-stakes collaboration.
Naver's value proposition lies in its vertically integrated AI stack - encompassing AI services, data systems, supercomputing infrastructure, cloud platforms, and proprietary data center technologies. Industry analysts say the initiative positions Naver as one of the few non-Western firms capable of addressing two of Europe's top concerns in tech: data sovereignty and technological autonomy.
Article edited by Joseph Tsai
