Overview

• OpenAI and the UAE have formalized Stargate UAE, a 1 GW AI computing cluster set to be part of a 5 GW data center campus in Abu Dhabi.
• The project will see 200 MW of the computing capacity go live in 2026, with the UAE committing to match its investments dollar-for-dollar in U.S. AI infrastructure.
• The initiative involves partnerships with Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, SoftBank, and UAE-based AI startup G42, which may channel up to $20 billion in investments across both regions.
• The U.S. government has approved the project under its export control authority, aligning with strategic efforts to counter China's AI advancements.
• The UAE will provide ChatGPT Plus subscriptions to its entire population, marking the first national-scale adoption of the service.