OpenAI Plans Massive 5-Gigawatt AI Data Center in Abu Dhabi — Bigger Than Monaco

OpenAI is preparing to launch one of the largest AI data centers in the world — a 5-gigawatt facility in Abu Dhabi — in partnership with UAE-based tech giant G42, according to recent reports. The planned campus will span approximately 10 square miles, making it larger than the entire country of Monaco, and will consume energy equivalent to five nuclear power plants.

This initiative is part of OpenAI’s Stargate project, an ambitious global infrastructure plan backed by OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. The Abu Dhabi site will dramatically surpass the scale of OpenAI’s first Stargate campus in Abilene, Texas, which is expected to deliver 1.2 gigawatts once completed.

A Strategic Middle East Move Amid Geopolitical Tensions

OpenAI’s deepening ties with G42 — which began with a 2023 AI collaboration — reflect the UAE’s push to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously praised the UAE for its early investment in AI, stating that the country was “talking about AI since before it was cool.”

However, G42’s relationships with Chinese companies like Huawei and Beijing Genomics Institute have drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, who raised concerns about potential tech transfers. These ties have since reportedly been severed, with G42 confirming it has divested from all Chinese investments and eliminated its China-based operations.

Microsoft’s Growing Role in Regional AI Growth

Following these developments, Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, invested $1.5 billion in G42 earlier in 2024. Microsoft President Brad Smith also joined G42’s board, signaling growing American tech involvement in the UAE’s AI ambitions.

An AI Infrastructure Arms Race

If realized, the Abu Dhabi project would redefine the scale of AI infrastructure globally. The data center’s 5-gigawatt capacity could host vast quantities of advanced computing hardware, supporting large-scale AI model training and deployment.

The move positions OpenAI at the forefront of a global AI infrastructure arms race, as companies and nations compete to secure the resources necessary for next-gen artificial intelligence.

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