OpenAI is working to establish a massive data center campus in Abu Dhabi, part of a groundbreaking initiative that could become one of the largest artificial intelligence infrastructure projects globally. This ambitious facility would reportedly cover around ten square miles, surpassing even the land area of Monaco, and draw approximately five gigawatts of electricity—roughly equivalent to the energy output of five nuclear reactors.
The sprawling Abu Dhabi complex is a key component of OpenAI’s broader global infrastructure strategy, known as the Stargate project. Announced earlier this year, Stargate involves partnerships with tech giants such as SoftBank and Oracle to develop large-scale data centers internationally. While OpenAI has already begun construction of a similar campus in Abilene, Texas, expected to achieve 1.2 gigawatts, the proposed site in Abu Dhabi would be more than four times larger.
OpenAI’s Abu Dhabi data center project is being developed in collaboration with G42, a prominent Emirati technology conglomerate. The two companies have maintained a close relationship since announcing a strategic partnership in 2023 aimed at fostering regional AI adoption. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously acknowledged the UAE’s forward-thinking approach towards artificial intelligence, praising the nation’s early interest and investment in the field.
However, the deepening involvement with G42 has raised concerns among U.S lawmakers, given the Emirati firm’s past connections to companies based in China that have been blacklisted by the U.S. government due to security concerns. Among these connections were notable firms such as Huawei and the Beijing Genomics Institute. G42 is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security advisor and brother of the nation’s leader—relationships that have further intensified apprehension regarding the transfer of advanced American technology abroad.
Under political scrutiny from U.S. authorities concerned about potential Chinese espionage risks, G42’s leadership announced earlier this year that it has fully divested its prior Chinese investments and no longer maintains a physical presence in China. Shortly thereafter, Microsoft, which holds substantial stakes in OpenAI, further deepened its ties in the region by investing $1.5 billion into G42, with Microsoft’s president Brad Smith joining G42’s board of directors.
This evolving partnership highlights the delicate balancing act inherent in international tech cooperation, defined by its significant potential for innovation and advancement as well as the persistent geopolitical sensitivities that accompany such monumental projects.
