The EU and Saudi Arabia agree on data cables deal to connect Europe and the Gulf

At the end of May 2023, the French company Alcatel Submarine Networks and Center3, a subsidiary of Saudi Telecommunication Company, announced they had finalised a deal to build the East to Med Corridor (EMC) Subsea Cable Project. The project is defined as a “submarine and terrestrial cable data transmission system connecting Europe with Asia via Greece and Saudi Arabia.” The project is expected to establish Saudi Arabia as a global digital hub while positioning Greece as well as Cyprus as the East Data Gateway for the European Union. The installation of this corridor is regarded as a major step to advance the global digital transformation and boost the global economy.  

Center3 signed the agreement on behalf of the EMC consortium, which is made up of center3, Telecommunication Telephony Satellite Applications (TTSA, Greece), Public Power Corporation (PPC, Greece) and Cyta (Cyprus). The signing of the deal marks the beginning of the construction phase of two groundbreaking data cables, called EMC West, that will connect Saudi Arabia and Europe. These cables will play a crucial role in establishing a vital connection between the two regions, operating both underwater and on land. According to reports, EMC Global, the part of the system linking Saudi Arabia to Asia is nearing completion and is expected to be launched soon. 

The EMC project is expected to help Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Cyprus to leverage their geographical advantages. By establishing a crucial data corridor, the three countries will find themselves at the centre of a digital connectivity infrastructure and serve as hubs of transportation, storage and data generation in Eurasia. Alcatel Submarine Networks, regarded as the global leader in manufacturing and installing submarine optical systems, will oversee the development of the project, which is expected to reach completion in early 2026.  The cables will run from Haql, in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia, passing through Cyprus and Greece before reaching Genova in Italy and Marseille in France. 

According to a statement by center3, the EMC cable has been meticulously designed to align with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030, an ambitious programme meant to help to diversify the economy away from oil, and Greece 2.0, the national recovery and resilience plan of the Mediterranean country.

In July 2022, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) had chosen Greece as his first stop on his first EU trip since the coronavirus pandemic. During the visit, MBS met with the then prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss ways to advance cooperation between both countries, notably in the field of energy and submarine cables infrastructure.  The announcement of the data cables project is a direct outcome of the partnership being fostered.