22-05-2025
OpenAI To Build World's Largest AI Data Centre In Abu Dhabi, UAE
In a landmark collaboration, OpenAI confirmed that it is developing a massive AI data centre in Abu Dhabi, marking the first international deployment of Stargate, OpenAI's cutting-edge AI infrastructure platform.
This project is a crucial step in the UAE's ambition to become a global leader in AI technology, leveraging the country's strategic position and innovation drive to make advanced AI more accessible across the globe.
The new facility is being developed in partnership with key players in the tech industry, including G42, an AI company backed by the UAE's sovereign wealth fund, along with Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank.
The development is a part of OpenAI's broader strategy to extend AI infrastructure to key regions worldwide, bringing powerful AI capabilities to more countries in a secure and sustainable way.
Once completed, the Stargate UAE data centre will be 5 gigawatts in size, significantly larger than any facility OpenAI or its closest rivals have previously built.
The project's massive capacity, which is set to span approximately 10 square miles in Abu Dhabi, will dwarf the 1.2GW planned for Stargate's first U.S. campus in Abilene, Texas. The UAE centre is expected to be a critical hub in expanding the reach of AI technologies, particularly US-designed AI software, to new global markets.
'This initiative is a bold leap forward for the AI industry, with the UAE playing a key role,' said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in a statement on Thursday.
'By establishing the world's first Stargate outside of the US in the UAE, we're turning a bold vision into reality. This is a step toward ensuring some of this era's most important breakthroughs — whether it's safer medicines, personalized learning, or modernized energy — can emerge from more places and benefit the world.'
The Stargate UAE project is also a significant milestone in strengthening the growing AI partnership between the UAE and the US.
Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, emphasized that the partnership was a 'significant step in the UAE–US AI partnership,' reflecting the strong ties between both nations in advancing AI infrastructure.
This joint initiative builds on existing collaborations, including President Trump's recent visit to the Gulf, where several AI infrastructure projects were announced.
As part of this collaboration, the UAE will also become the first country to offer ChatGPT services nationwide, with the tool being integrated across government agencies and key sectors such as energy, healthcare, and education.
Furthermore, all UAE residents will receive ChatGPT-Plus subscriptions, ensuring that OpenAI's tools are accessible to everyone in the country.
The new data centre also holds the potential to serve as an AI infrastructure and compute capacity hub within a 2,000-mile radius, reaching up to half of the world's population.
This capability aligns with OpenAI's broader ambition to create a globally distributed, democratically powered AI network, helping AI adoption to accelerate across multiple countries.
By bringing the Stargate infrastructure to the UAE, OpenAI is creating an environment where AI can continue to thrive, making it easier for governments and businesses to integrate cutting-edge technologies into their daily operations and services.
With future Stargate facilities planned for other regions, OpenAI is laying the groundwork for a more connected world driven by AI technologies. This project is just the beginning of a larger global initiative that aims to place AI infrastructure at the heart of innovation in economies across the globe.
The Stargate UAE facility represents a game-changing moment in the world of AI technology, enabling faster access to cutting-edge tools while solidifying the UAE's role in the future of global AI innovation.
With OpenAI, G42, and other tech giants leading the charge, the UAE is set to be a key player in shaping the future of AI, not just regionally but globally.
