OpenAI’s 1GW Abu Dhabi AI Cluster Puts UAE at the Heart of Global AI Infrastructure
Shailaja Korra
OpenAI’s Abu Dhabi compute cluster - OpenAI’s Stargate UAE project includes a 1GW AI compute cluster in Abu Dhabi, with 200MW expected online in 2026.
The wider UAE AI campus - The Abu Dhabi project forms part of a planned 5GW AI campus, among the world’s largest concentrations of AI infrastructure.
Major technology partnerships - Stargate UAE brings together OpenAI, G42, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco and SoftBank to build large-scale regional AI capacity.
Abu Dhabi’s sovereign AI strategy - Abu Dhabi is developing sovereign AI capabilities, keeping data processing inside UAE borders while expanding government AI adoption.
Microsoft expands UAE AI presence - Microsoft has deployed Copilot across Abu Dhabi’s government, reaching 35,000 licences across 27 public-sector entities.
Dubai accelerates enterprise AI - Dubai Holding partnered with Microsoft to embed AI across operations, marking a major enterprise-scale deployment in the region.
AI research gains momentum - Abu Dhabi’s Institute for Foundation Models released six fully open-source models, strengthening the emirate’s AI research ambitions.
UAE strengthens global AI positioning - Massive compute investments are helping the UAE emerge as a major AI infrastructure hub outside the United States.
AI infrastructure drives strategic influence - The UAE’s data-centre expansion offers frontier compute access while increasing its importance in the global AI ecosystem.