In a landmark move that cements the United Arab Emirates’ position as a global tech powerhouse, OpenAI-the creators of ChatGPT, has announced its first-ever international deployment of Stargate, the company’s next-generation AI infrastructure platform. The mega project will be based in Abu Dhabi and is set to become the world’s largest AI data center.
The partnership between OpenAI and the UAE includes the development of a one-gigawatt AI computing cluster, with an initial 200 megawatts scheduled to go operational by 2026. The Stargate project is expected to revolutionize artificial intelligence deployment, not just in the Middle East but across the globe.
OpenAI revealed that Stargate represents a bold vision: “a new company which intends to invest $500 billion over the next four years to build advanced AI infrastructure in the United States.” The UAE arm of this initiative is part of a broader global expansion strategy, aimed at creating frontier-scale computing power to support safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The Abu Dhabi-based Stargate is being launched in collaboration with G42, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank. It aligns with the UAE’s ambitious economic and technological agenda, which includes a massive $1.4 trillion investment pledge in the United States earlier this year to drive innovation, job creation, and economic growth.
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Crucially, Stargate UAE will have the capacity to deliver AI infrastructure and compute power within a 2,000-mile radius, covering up to half of the world’s population. As part of the deal, the UAE will also become the first country to enable nationwide access to ChatGPT, allowing every citizen and resident to tap into OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology.
This historic agreement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent Middle East tour, during which several high-profile AI deals were unveiled, including the Stargate project in Abu Dhabi. It marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s emergence as a global AI hub and signals OpenAI’s broader international ambitions.
“We’ve already been engaging with other countries around the world that are interested in building their own Stargates,” OpenAI said, hinting at more global deployments on the horizon.
Notably, OpenAI has previously shown interest in supporting AI missions in countries like India, highlighting its commitment to expanding safe and impactful AI technology worldwide.
