OpenAI Partners with UAE to Build Major AI Data Center in Abu Dhabi

OpenAI is collaborating with the United Arab Emirates to develop a significant new data center in Abu Dhabi, which could become one of the world’s largest. The project involves a 5-gigawatt data center campus, with OpenAI expected to be one of the primary anchor tenants. This initiative aligns with a broader agreement between the UAE and the United States to establish the largest AI campus outside the U.S., highlighting the UAE’s ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. The data center is part of OpenAI’s broader ‘Stargate’ initiative, a $500 billion project aimed at expanding AI infrastructure globally. The partnership reflects a shift in export rules, with the Trump administration scrapping previous chip licensing restrictions, potentially boosting the UAE’s AI ambitions by allowing better access to advanced U.S. technology. The U.S. Commerce Department confirmed a new AI partnership framework with the UAE, noting that strict controls will ensure secure AI development. The deal also commits the UAE to equivalent infrastructure investments in the U.S., advancing OpenAI’s goal of promoting ‘democratic AI’ and indicating a regional pivot away from Chinese tech alternatives.