Dubai — Tech companies and their supply chains will be able to demonstrate that they meet the highest global standards for reliability, security and sustainability, amid a massive surge in data centre growth fuelled by the rise of AI and cloud computing.
The new Mark of Trust for reliable, secure and sustainable data centres, based on international standards, has been developed to provide trust and confidence that the increasing global demand for data centres can be delivered sustainably and efficiently over the long term, while addressing key concerns around energy demand, regulatory compliance, supply chain vulnerability, water usage, and pressure on existing infrastructure and local communities.
The global scheme, launched today by BSI, the business improvement and standards company, will help tech companies assure clients, regulators, and consumers that their data centre facilities and operations meet global compliance requirements and align with international best practice.
The global data centre industry is expected to more than double from $242.72 billion currently to over $584 billion by 2032, with the number of hyperscale data centres forecast to double roughly every five years.
The Mark of Trust is designed to ensure that data centre providers can effectively address government and regulatory scrutiny, and that sites can be readily demonstrated as compliant with emerging global regulations, while using international best practice to differentiate themselves from other providers.
David Mudd, BSI’s Global Head of Digital Trust Assurance, said: “The promise of technology, and in particular AI, has never been greater, but it will not be realised without the necessary infrastructure behind it. Tech companies face unprecedented operational, regulatory and reputational pressures as they seek to meet the exponential growth in demand for data centres fuelled by the rise of AI. Organisations will now be able to meet these pressures head-on, while inspiring trust and confidence among clients, regulators and consumers that their facilities and operations meet global compliance requirements and align with international best practice.”
Following a pilot phase, BSI has certified BK Gulf LLC, a leading EPC contractor in the UAE and Middle East data centre markets, to the Availability and Protection module of the Mark of Trust. This certification marks a key milestone in the organisation’s journey towards sustainable and efficient data centre delivery, and further demonstrates its ability to consistently deliver projects that are compliant and aligned with international best practice.
Andrew Butterfield, BSI’s Managing Director, Built Environment, said: “We would like to congratulate BK Gulf LLC on achieving certification to the Availability and Protection module of the Mark of Trust, which demonstrates its leadership in industry best practice. We are proud to be their trusted partner on this journey to driving innovation and excellence. BK Gulf LLC was among the first organisations to achieve the BIM Kitemark, and this latest certification further underscores its commitment to embracing international standards.
“BSI’s Mark of Trust will help organisations such as BK Gulf LLC to build resilience, remain future-ready, and secure an AI-enabled future that works for all.”
The Mark of Trust is an independent, modular, and globally recognised framework designed to validate technical, operational, and compliance excellence across data centre facilities and operations. BSI will offer two versions of the mark — one for facilities and the other for services. It comprises flexible modules, each addressing a key issue in the data centre industry, from business continuity and carbon usage to water management. As priorities vary across stakeholders and regions, modules can be adopted in the order most appropriate to each organisation.
BSI will regularly review both the number of modules and the specific requirements within each module to ensure they continue to address the evolving needs of the industry, ensuring that the Mark of Trust remains relevant in a fast-paced environment.
Aly Diab, Design & Engineering Manager at BK Gulf LLC, added: “BK Gulf is pleased to receive the Data Centres Mark of Trust from the British Standards Institution. As a leading EPC organisation in the region, this recognition reflects BK Gulf’s proven track record, organisational capability, and the robustness of its engineering, management, procurement, and construction systems in consistently delivering data centre facilities and infrastructure in full compliance with the availability and protection requirements outlined in the international standard ISO/IEC 22237-1.
“This achievement is particularly significant as it is not a single-project accreditation, but a certification against a published global standard, independently assessed and audited by one of the world’s most respected and authoritative standards bodies. It affirms BK Gulf’s sustained commitment to quality, reliability and excellence across all mission-critical projects.
“In a region experiencing rapid growth and AI-driven digital transformation, this certification reinforces BK Gulf’s role and commitment as a trusted partner in delivering the next generation of data centre infrastructure that underpins the digital economy.”
