President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expects interest in large-scale data center investments to increase following his discussions with executives from United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based DAMAC Digital, which is looking to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia's fast-growing digital infrastructure market.
DAMAC Digital is studying a plan to build the Philippines' largest data center in Laguna, a project officials said will entail extensive investments in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), according to a statement from the Presidential Communications Office on Wednesday.
Mr. Marcos told officials that the sector would be given priority support, highlighting the administration's effort to attract capital into high-value, technology-driven industries.
“We are very excited about DAMAC Digital's planned investment in the Philippines, which includes the country's largest data center with 250 megawatt (MW) capacity,” he said in a Facebook post.
“This positions the Philippines as an emerging data center hub in the region. We continue to welcome investments that strengthen our digital economy, create high-quality jobs and prepare our country for future demands,” he said.
The government expects demand for data centers to grow rapidly as digital payments, e-commerce and AI adoption expand across the region.
DAMAC Digital, the digital infrastructure arm of Dubai-based DAMAC Group, has committed more than $3 billion to Southeast Asia and aims to have 250 MW of operational capacity in the region by 2026.
A project in the Philippines will add to its global portfolio spanning the Americas, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
The discussion took place during Mr Marcos' visit to Abu Dhabi, where the Philippines signed its first comprehensive economic partnership agreement in the region with the United Arab Emirates.
Officials said the trade agreement, along with potential investments like DAMAC, is expected to attract foreign capital to strategic sectors and support growth as the economy shifts toward digital industries.
DAMAC Digital, originally launched as EDGNEX Data Centers in 2021 and rebranded in June 2025, develops, builds and manages data centers for hyperscale wholesale, retail colocation, cloud services and AI-powered workloads with a focus on sustainability, innovation and international connectivity. — Chloe Marie A Hufana