As UAE, OpenAI sign deal, will ChatGPT Plus really become free for its citizens?
OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is partnering with the United Arab Emirates to build one of the world's most powerful artificial intelligence computing complexes, marking a bold step in the company's new 'OpenAI for Countries' initiative. The new project, called Stargate UAE, will be developed in partnership with American tech giants and local Emirati firms, and will serve as a key node in OpenAI's growing global infrastructure.
The announcement follows a high-profile diplomatic push led by US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Gulf nation last week. During the visit, Trump and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed jointly unveiled plans for a sprawling five-gigawatt data centre in Abu Dhabi — with Stargate UAE slated to serve as the first one-gigawatt phase of that larger vision.
OpenAI and its partners are all set to build a one gigawatt AI computing centre in Abu Dhabi, with about 200 megawatts to open by 2026. This will be the first of several data centers planned for the complex next year.
great to work with the UAE on our first international stargate! appreciate the governments working together to make this happen.
sheikh tahnoon has been a great supporter of openai, a true believer in AGI, and a dear personal friend.
— Sam Altman (@sama) May 23, 2025
This one gigawatt centre will be part of the larger 5 gigawatt Abu Dhabi data center announced by President Trump and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed during the former's visit last week.
An Axios report states that the new UAE investment via G42 could be about $20 billion, with the expected outlays in the Gulf at $8 billion and the US at $10 billion. The US government has also given its approval to the deal.
OpenAI last week announced its Artificial Intelligence (AI) partnership with UAE, which will make it the first country to enable ChatGPT across the country, meaning the AI will be integrated into sectors like education, healthcare, energy and government services.
OpenAI's official announcement mentions nationwide access to ChatGPT, but it nowhere mentions that it will be free of cost for personal subscription. While some media reports mentioned that it will be freely available to all UAE residents, there is no confirmation regarding the same by OpenAI or UAE government.
As of now, the ChatGPT's free version (GPT 3.5) remains available for everyone in the UAE, and the premium version, ChatGPT Plus is available at a cost of $20 per month.
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