Cushman & Wakefield's latest EMEA Data Centre Update for the first half of 2025 reports a a 21 per cent year-on-year increase in operational capacity across the region.
The total now stands at 10.3 gigawatts (GW), with a further 2.6GW under construction and 11.5GW in planning.
This brings the total pipeline to 24.4GW, reflecting a 43 per cent annual growth rate.
The report confirms the continued dominance of the FLAPD markets (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin) with Milan joining this group.
These six ‘Powerhouse’ markets account for over 45 per cent of operational capacity and nearly half of the region’s development pipeline.
London remains the largest market in EMEA, with 1,189 megawatts (MW) live and a further 1,678MW in the pipeline.
While these core markets remain central to the region’s digital infrastructure, growth is increasingly shifting towards emerging and developing locations. Cities such as Oslo, Helsinki, Lisbon and Berlin are gaining momentum, supported by improved infrastructure, regulatory reform and rising demand for AI and cloud services.
The Middle East and Africa are also seeing rapid expansion, with Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh among the fastest-growing markets.
Laura Shepherd, EMEA Data Centre Advisory at Cushman & Wakefield, says: “Sustainability and security continue to shape the market.
Operators are navigating complex planning environments, land and power constraints, and increasingly stringent environmental standards which are driving up costs and delivery timelines.
Despite these challenges, investor confidence remains strong, with significant capital flowing into both established and emerging markets.”
Andrew Fray, Chairman, EMEA Data Centres at Cushman & Wakefield, adds: “We are seeing a rebalancing of growth across the region.
While the FLAPD markets remain vital, the next wave of opportunity lies in Tier 2 cities and remote campuses that offer scale, sustainability and strategic connectivity.
The rise of AI and high-density workloads is accelerating this trend, and investors are responding with bold, forward-looking strategies.”
The report also features Cushman & Wakefield’s latest EMEA Data Centre Maturity Index, which evaluates 31 markets based on 15 parameters including stock levels, hyperscaler presence and built capacity.
The index segments markets into four categories; Powerhouse, Established, Developing and Emerging, offering a forward-looking view of growth potential, therefore helping investors and developers identify strategic opportunities across the region.
Over the course of H1 2025, Lisbon has moved from Emerging to Established, driven by the 1.2GW Start Campus development.
Stockholm has also advanced to Established status, while Lagos and Athens have been promoted to Developing.
Groningen/Eemshaven in the Netherlands enters the Index for the first time, also as a Developing market.
