Iraqi-UAE Consortium Launches $700M WorldLink Cable to Transform Middle East Connectivity
An Iraqi-Emirati consortium has unveiled plans for a $700 million subsea and terrestrial data cable project to link the United Arab Emirates to Turkey via Iraq. This initiative, which was branded by WordLink, is structured to transform regional connectivity and position Iraq as a crucial hub in the Middle East’s digital infrastructure.
The initiative, branded “WorldLink,” is being led by Iraq’s Tech 964, UAE-based Breeze Investments, and DIL Technologies, an Iraqi-Kurdish technology firm. This innovation is positioned at a time when data traffic is increasing rapidly due to cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) applications, as a project aimed at reducing network congestion, minimizing data transit times, and ensuring reliable connectivity between Asia and Europe.
The consortium's chairman, Ali El Ekabi, has stated that the project is privately funded and planned to be rolled out in phases over the next four to five years, targeting “hyperscalers, international carriers and AI applications” as key users.
This project will include a route via Iraq into Turkey and an underwater cable from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to the Faw Peninsula in Iraq. It is expected to yield for cloud services and high-speed internet.
The announcement comes just days after Saudi Arabia revealed a fiber-optic project in Syria, highlighting a regional race among Gulf states to attract investment into data centers and digital infrastructure. The WorldLink project offers an opportunity to significantly increase Iraq's commitment to the global data economy and to solidify the UAE's status as a leader in connectivity.
The project will help advance manufacturing methods such as blockchain, fintech, and artificial intelligence (AI), which rely heavily on robust data infrastructure, as well as boost internet speeds. The $700 million investment is viewed as a vital step toward ensuring the region's digital future, given the recent surge in demand for digital services worldwide.