“Stargate UAE” to become one-gigawatt AI computing hub by 2026
OpenAI has unveiled plans to build the world’s largest data center in Abu Dhabi through its groundbreaking “Stargate UAE” project. The $500 billion initiative, developed in partnership with G42, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank, represents the first sovereign AI partnership between OpenAI and a national government.
The massive one-gigawatt AI computing cluster will position the UAE as the first country to implement ChatGPT nationwide, providing universal access to OpenAI’s technology. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the facility will support critical sectors including government services, healthcare, education, and transportation.
Strategic partnership aligns with UAE’s $1.4 trillion US investment pledge
The project advances the UAE’s commitment to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States while establishing Abu Dhabi as a global AI hub:
- Creates infrastructure capable of serving half the world’s population within 2,000-mile radius
- Represents first phase of OpenAI’s global “Stargate” network
- Supports U.S. technological leadership through strategic partnerships
- Follows recent Middle East visit by President Donald Trump announcing AI collaborations
“Stargate UAE reflects our long-term vision to build frontier-scale compute capacity around the world for safe, secure, and broadly beneficial AGI,” OpenAI stated in its announcement.
Global expansion plans revealed
OpenAI disclosed ambitious international expansion plans:
- Targeting 10 country partnerships in initial phase
- Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon to launch Asia Pacific roadshow
- Additional “Stargate” projects under discussion worldwide
- Sovereign AI capabilities tailored to national requirements
The Abu Dhabi facility will serve as the prototype for OpenAI’s global network of supercomputing centers, combining local data sovereignty with cutting-edge AI infrastructure.