Stargate UAE will be situated within the newly created UAE–US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi.
The President of the UAE witnessed the signing of a strategic partnership to establish Stargate UAE, an advanced AI data center, through collaboration between G42 and leading global companies in artificial intelligence and advanced technology.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, Abu Dhabi will soon host the world's largest AI data center, following a landmark agreement announced on Thursday. This initiative marks the first international deployment of OpenAI's advanced infrastructure platform, Stargate.
Stargate UAE will be situated in the newly launched UAE–US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi, which was unveiled last week in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and Donald J. Trump, President of the United States.
This project represents a significant milestone in the UAE's goal to establish itself as a global leader in AI technology. By capitalizing on the country's strategic advantages and commitment to innovation, it aims to make advanced AI more accessible worldwide.
5GW Campus
The new 5-gigawatt AI campus is being developed in collaboration with major tech industry players, including G42, an AI firm supported by the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund, as well as Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank.
According to a statement from the Abu Dhabi Media Office, G42 will construct the 1-gigawatt compute cluster known as Stargate UAE, which will be managed by OpenAI and Oracle. This partnership will also involve Cisco, which will provide zero-trust security and AI-ready connectivity, along with SoftBank Group and NVIDIA, the latter supplying the latest NVIDIA Grace Blackwell GB300 systems.
The facility aims to offer top-tier infrastructure, large-scale computing capabilities, and low-latency inferencing to support AI solutions that cater to the needs of an increasingly intelligent world. The initial 200-megawatt AI cluster is anticipated to become operational in 2026.
Is this the largest ever?
Covering an area of 10 square miles, the UAE–US AI infrastructure campus is the largest deployment of its kind outside the United States. It will offer 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity along with regional computing resources.
To reduce carbon emissions, the facility will be powered by a combination of nuclear, solar, and natural gas energy. Additionally, it will feature a science park aimed at fostering innovation, talent development, and sustainable computing infrastructure.
Once completed, the Stargate UAE data center will surpass any facility previously constructed by OpenAI or its closest competitors. Its substantial capacity will overshadow the 1.2-gigawatt capacity planned for Stargate's first US campus in Abilene, Texas.
These developments are part of OpenAI's larger strategy to expand AI infrastructure to key regions around the globe, enabling secure and sustainable access to powerful AI capabilities in more countries.
Critical AI Hub
The UAE-US campus is set to become a vital center for expanding the reach of AI technologies, especially US-developed AI software, into new global markets.
“This initiative marks a significant advancement for the AI industry, with the UAE playing a pivotal role,” stated Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in a Thursday announcement. “By establishing the world’s first Stargate outside the US in the UAE, we are transforming an ambitious vision into reality. This initiative aims to ensure that some of the most important breakthroughs of our time—such as safer medicines, personalized education, and modernized energy—can originate from diverse locations and benefit the global community.”
UAE-US AI Collaboration
The Stargate UAE project represents a major milestone in enhancing the burgeoning AI partnership between the UAE and the US.
Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, highlighted that the partnership marks a "significant step in the UAE–US AI collaboration," underscoring the strong relationship between the two nations in enhancing AI infrastructure. This joint initiative builds on previous collaborations that have already led to the announcement of several AI infrastructure projects.
As part of this partnership, the UAE will become the first country to provide OpenAI's ChatGPT services nationwide. The tool will be integrated across government agencies and key sectors, including energy, healthcare, and education. Additionally, all residents of the UAE will receive ChatGPT-Plus subscriptions, ensuring that OpenAI's tools are accessible to everyone in the country.
Global AI Initiative
The new data center has the potential to function as a hub for AI infrastructure and computing capacity within a 2,000-mile radius, potentially reaching up to half of the world's population. This capability supports OpenAI's larger goal of establishing a globally distributed, democratically powered AI network, which aims to facilitate the rapid adoption of AI across various countries. By introducing the Stargate infrastructure in the UAE, OpenAI is fostering an environment conducive to AI development, enabling governments and businesses to seamlessly incorporate advanced technologies into their everyday operations and services.
Laying the Foundation
As OpenAI plans to establish Stargate facilities in various regions, it is setting the stage for a more interconnected world powered by AI technologies. This initiative marks the beginning of a broader global effort to embed AI infrastructure at the core of innovation in economies worldwide.
The Stargate UAE facility is a pivotal moment in AI technology, providing quicker access to advanced tools and reinforcing the UAE’s position in the future of global AI innovation.
With OpenAI, G42, and other leading tech companies at the forefront, the UAE is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of AI on both a regional and global scale.
