OpenAI is planning something massive in the Middle East—a 5-gigawatt AI data center in Abu Dhabi that could become one of the largest in the world. Covering over 10 square miles, the new campus would be bigger than the entire country of Monaco. To put it in perspective, it will require as much energy as five nuclear power plants.
This mega-project is part of Stargate, a global data infrastructure initiative backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. The goal? Build advanced computing hubs that can handle the next wave of AI breakthroughs. While OpenAI’s first Stargate center in Texas is expected to hit 1.2 gigawatts, this one in the UAE is more than four times that size.
A Strategic Partnership with G42 Amid Geopolitical Tensions
OpenAI isn’t going it alone. The Abu Dhabi project is a partnership with G42, a major tech firm chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan—brother to the UAE’s ruler and national security adviser. The companies first teamed up in 2023 to bring advanced AI tools to the Middle East. At the time, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised the region for embracing AI early on.
However, this alliance hasn’t come without controversy. U.S. lawmakers raised red flags last year over G42’s past ties with Chinese firms like Huawei and BGI. Some officials feared the UAE could become a backdoor for China to access advanced American tech.
In response, G42 made a public pivot. In early 2024, its CEO confirmed that the company had cut all financial and physical ties with China. That shift cleared the path for Microsoft to step in. The tech giant—OpenAI’s biggest backer—invested $1.5 billion into G42 shortly after. Microsoft President Brad Smith also joined G42’s board.
This power move signals more than just business. It shows how the U.S. and UAE are aligning to shape the future of artificial intelligence. The Abu Dhabi Stargate project isn’t just about servers and chips—it’s about who controls the future of compute.
