Abu Dhabi is making a bold leap into the future of artificial intelligence with the launch of Stargate UAE, a massive AI compute cluster backed by some of the world’s biggest tech players. Local AI powerhouse G42 has joined forces with OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank, and Cisco to bring this vision to life.
Where will Stargate be located?
The cluster will be built inside the newly established 5-gigawatt UAE–US AI Campus. The project aims to create a 1-gigawatt AI compute powerhouse. Once completed, it will be one of the largest of its kind globally.
The initiative was announced in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Him being there symbolizes UAE’s commitment to becoming a global leader in AI technology and innovation.
What is Stargate UAE?
Stargate UAE is more than just a supercomputer—it’s a strategic AI infrastructure project that will provide the computing power needed to:
- ✅ Train large-scale AI models
- ✅ Process and analyze vast amounts of data
- ✅ Deliver high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities
- ✅ Enable businesses and governments to access next-gen AI tools
Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, called it a “significant step in the UAE–US tech partnership,” aimed at spreading AI’s benefits across global economies and communities.
Backed by Global Tech Leaders
This groundbreaking collaboration includes:
- OpenAI: CEO Sam Altman said Stargate UAE marks the first major milestone in OpenAI’s new “OpenAI for Countries” program.
- NVIDIA: CEO Jensen Huang called it part of the UAE’s bold vision for using AI to drive growth and leadership.
- Oracle: CTO Larry Ellison described Stargate as the world’s first platform that lets UAE government and businesses connect their data with powerful AI models.
Joining them are Cisco and Japan’s SoftBank, both of which will contribute to the technical backbone of the project.
G42’s Global AI Push
Stargate isn’t the only major move by G42 this month. The company has also:
- Partnered with World Wide Technology to help export AI solutions from the UAE
- Joined hands with France’s Mistral AI to build next-gen AI platforms
- Formed a strategic alliance with MGX (Abu Dhabi’s AI investment firm), NVIDIA, and top French companies to create Europe’s largest AI campus
And they’re not stopping there, G42 is also expanding into the United States through a new agreement with Cisco to explore nationwide AI infrastructure development.
Why This Matters
The Stargate UAE project signals the UAE’s ambitions to lead the world in AI, not just as a user but as an innovator and exporter. With sovereign capabilities, world-class partnerships, and infrastructure investments, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a central hub for AI innovation.
Louis Napoletani, CEO of Mottli, summed it up:
“G42 is at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s vision to build sovereign AI capabilities and a thriving innovation ecosystem.”