OpenAI has officially announced the expansion of its “Stargate” data center project to the Middle East. As part of the newly launched Stargate UAE initiative, a 1-gigawatt data center cluster will be constructed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to OpenAI, the first phase of the project is expected to go live in 2026, initially delivering 200 megawatts of computing power. This strategic project will be carried out in collaboration with global tech giants including G42, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, and SoftBank.
In a statement on its official blog, OpenAI noted that the Stargate UAE project has the potential to deliver AI infrastructure and computing power within a 2,000-mile radius.
This initiative also marks the first partnership under OpenAI’s new global program, “OpenAI for Countries.” The program aims to help interested governments develop sovereign AI capabilities in coordination with the U.S. government.
OpenAI further stated that the UAE will become the first country in the world to enable nationwide access to ChatGPT, giving citizens full access to OpenAI’s technology at a national scale.
It’s worth noting that this announcement coincides with a recent statement by Elon Musk, whose AI company, xAI, plans to build the world’s first gigawatt-scale AI training cluster.
This development underscores the UAE’s ambition to establish itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence and highlights the increasing importance of strategic collaboration in the tech sector.
