In a historic announcement that signals a major leap forward in artificial intelligence development and international technological cooperation, a coalition of global tech giants — G42, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank Group, and Cisco — has unveiled plans to build Stargate UAE, a state-of-the-art AI compute cluster set to rise in Abu Dhabi’s newly established UAE–US AI Campus.
This initiative marks the first deployment of Stargate outside the United States, laying the groundwork for a nation-scale sovereign AI platform in the UAE. Spanning an impressive 10 square miles, the campus is set to become the largest AI infrastructure of its kind outside of the US, offering 5 gigawatts of data center capacity and vast regional compute resources.
Building the Future of AI, Together
Stargate UAE will be constructed by G42 and jointly operated by OpenAI and Oracle, bringing together some of the most influential forces in cloud computing, AI, and infrastructure development.
- NVIDIA will power the cluster with its cutting-edge Grace Blackwell GB300 systems, designed to accelerate complex AI workloads.
- Cisco is embedding its AI-optimized, zero-trust security networking solutions, ensuring a robust and secure digital environment.
- SoftBank Group, acting as a strategic partner, is supporting the initiative’s long-term global vision and scalability.
A Sustainable and Strategic Hub for AI Innovation
The facility will be powered through a mix of nuclear, solar, and natural gas energy sources, reinforcing the UAE’s focus on sustainable technological growth. In addition to compute infrastructure, Stargate UAE will feature a science park, aimed at cultivating innovation, talent, and AI research at a global scale.
The first 1GW Stargate UAE cluster — equipped with 200MW of capacity — is expected to come online in 2026, ushering in a new era of low-latency inferencing and high-performance AI solutions.
Voices from the Partnership
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, highlighted the significance of the launch:
“By establishing the world’s first Stargate outside of the US in the UAE, we’re transforming a bold vision into reality. This is the first major milestone in our OpenAI for Countries initiative. It’s a step toward ensuring some of this era’s most important breakthroughs — safer medicines, personalized learning, and modernized energy — can emerge from more places and benefit the world.”
Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, emphasized the initiative’s global impact:
“This is about building a bridge – rooted in trust and ambition – that helps bring the benefits of AI to economies, societies, and people around the world.”
Larry Ellison, CTO and chairman of Oracle, described the project as a first-of-its-kind:
“This platform will enable every UAE government agency and commercial institution to connect their data to the world’s most advanced AI models. It sets a new standard for digital sovereignty.”
Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, added:
“With Stargate UAE, we are building the AI infrastructure to power the country’s bold vision – to empower its people, grow its economy, and shape its future.”
Masayoshi Son, chairman of SoftBank Group, said:
“Bold investments, trusted partnerships, and national ambition can create a more connected, more joyful, and more empowered world.”
Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco, reinforced the significance of secure AI systems:
“We’re building smart, secure, and energy-efficient networks that will turn intelligence into impact at global scale.”
Strategic Ties: UAE and the United States
Stargate UAE not only represents a technological milestone but also underscores the strengthening economic and strategic alliance between the UAE and the US. The initiative follows OpenAI’s major domestic investment in US AI infrastructure and aligns with the UAE’s earlier commitment to invest $1.4 trillion in the US.
This partnership reflects a broader vision championed by OpenAI for Countries, a new program aimed at enabling sovereign AI infrastructure development in coordination with the US government, rooted in democratic values, open markets, and trusted collaboration.
Stargate UAE is more than a data center, it is a symbol of shared ambition, mutual trust, and the boundless potential of international collaboration in the age of artificial intelligence.
