The United Arab Emirates is deepening its partnership with the United States as it seeks to establish itself as a major global hub for artificial intelligence, with President Donald Trump emerging as a key figure in Abu Dhabi’s technology ambitions.
The UAE sees access to advanced US technology, computing infrastructure and investment as crucial to its plan to move beyond its traditional dependence on oil. The partnership has gained momentum under the Trump administration, which has eased restrictions on the UAE’s access to advanced AI chips and other sensitive technologies.
At the centre of the relationship is a planned 5-gigawatt AI campus in Abu Dhabi, backed by a USD 30 billion investment framework. The project is expected to bring together major US technology companies and UAE-backed firms, creating one of the largest AI infrastructure hubs outside the United States.
OpenAI, G42, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco and SoftBank are among the companies involved in the Stargate UAE project. The first 1GW cluster is planned as part of the wider campus, with 200MW expected to come online in 2026.
For the UAE, the goal goes beyond building data centres. Officials want the country to develop the infrastructure, talent and businesses needed to become an important player in the global technology economy.
The country's state-backed AI company G42 has also shifted its strategy towards closer cooperation with Washington. The company has said it severed ties with China and chose to focus more heavily on its relationship with the United States.
One of the biggest changes under the Trump administration has been Washington's decision to loosen export restrictions for the UAE. In July, the US Commerce Department moved the UAE into Country Group A:5, giving the country and approved companies access to certain US-controlled technologies under license-free arrangements.
The changes also cover advanced computing products, including AI chips and servers, for approved UAE entities. The move is significant because access to high-end computing hardware is essential for training advanced models and operating large-scale AI systems.
The UAE has also committed to making matching investments in US AI infrastructure, creating a two-way relationship in technology and capital between the two countries.
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The UAE's ambitions face a major challenge: regional security. The ongoing conflict involving Iran has raised concerns about the physical safety of data centres and other critical digital infrastructure in the Gulf. Recent attacks on data-centre facilities have highlighted the risks of building large concentrations of computing capacity in a region facing geopolitical tensions.
That creates a difficult balancing act for the UAE. The country has the capital, energy resources and political ambition to build a major technology ecosystem, but investors must also consider security, infrastructure resilience and the availability of skilled workers.
Still, Abu Dhabi appears committed to the strategy. The UAE-US partnership is increasingly connecting AI infrastructure, semiconductor access, investment and national security.