OpenAI to operate new AI cluster in Abu Dhabi’s Stargate UAE project
UAE and US join forces with tech giants to launch Stargate UAE, a major AI infrastructure project set for 2026.
In a major development for AI and global cooperation, G42, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank, and Cisco have announced a partnership to launch Stargate UAE.
The 1-gigawatt AI compute cluster will be part of a larger 5-gigawatt UAE–US AI Campus located in Abu Dhabi, aimed at supporting large-scale AI workloads and fostering innovation across sectors.
Stargate UAE will be constructed by G42 and operated jointly by OpenAI and Oracle, with Cisco providing cybersecurity and connectivity, and NVIDIA supplying its latest Grace Blackwell GB300 systems.
The project is scheduled to bring its first 200-megawatt cluster online by 2026. The facility will provide regional low-latency inferencing and high-performance AI compute infrastructure.
The broader UAE–US AI Campus will span 10 square miles and be powered by a combination of nuclear, solar, and natural gas energy. The campus will also include a science park to support research and workforce development.
Announced in the presence of leaders from both nations, the initiative aligns with the new US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership framework, which aims to foster responsible and secure AI advancement.
The initiative also includes reciprocal investment in the US through projects like Stargate US, supporting the America First Investment Policy. Stargate UAE represents the first overseas expansion of the OpenAI for Countries initiative and demonstrates an effort to decentralize AI innovation globally.
This project highlights the growing role of international cooperation in shaping AI infrastructure and reflects the UAE’s ambition to lead in technological advancement through partnerships and long-term investment.
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