Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, and Cisco have partnered with the UAE to launch Stargate UAE, a major AI data center located in the Persian Gulf.
The launch event brought together key leaders: OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and Cisco’s Chuck Robbins.
What Is Stargate UAE?
Stargate UAE is a 1-gigawatt AI compute facility that’s part of a larger 5-gigawatt AI campus planned for Abu Dhabi.
This makes it one of the largest AI infrastructure investments outside the United States.
The data center will run on a mix of energy sources (nuclear, solar, and natural gas) to limit emissions, and will also employ advanced Nvidia AI chips.
Global AI Strategy
Just days before the announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump visited the region. He endorsed an agreement to support AI development in the Middle East.
His administration also approved access for the UAE to purchase up to 500,000 Nvidia AI chips. This is a notable change from the earlier U.S. policy that expressed skepticism about the UAE.
Under the previous Biden administration, officials raised concerns about UAE’s ties to China. And in 2023, the CIA labeled the UAE-based firm G42 a security risk.
However, those concerns appear to no longer influence policy decisions.
Also read: The OpenAI Stargate Project Faces Economic Roadblocks
Why the UAE?
Several reasons make Abu Dhabi an ideal location for this data hub:
- Energy Access: The UAE offers steady, clean energy through nuclear and solar resources.
- Geopolitical Stability: The country remains neutral but forward-looking.
- Space Availability: Abu Dhabi provides the physical space needed for massive tech infrastructure.
A New Kind of Global Collaboration
Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, called the project a “bridge rooted in trust and ambition.” He emphasized that the goal is to expand AI access globally.
The partnership includes some of the world’s most powerful tech companies. Their combined expertise and resources give Stargate UAE a strategic advantage.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman added that the infrastructure would help protect the national security of the U.S. and its allies. This highlights a key goal: using AI as a tool for strategic influence.
