Global tech giants to build AI data centre Stargate UAE - iTWire
A consortium of global tech giants have launched a project to build a giant AI data centre in the United Arab Emirates. UAE technology provider G42, together with OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank Group and Cisco, have announced a partnership to build Stargate UAE, an AI infrastructure cluster that will run in the newly established 5-gigawatt UAE–US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi.
Stargate UAE - A Major Initiative
Stargate UAE, a 1-gigawatt compute cluster, will be built by G42 and operated by OpenAI and Oracle. The collaboration will also include Cisco and SoftBank Group for connectivity, as well as NVIDIA which will supply the latest NVIDIA Grace Blackwell GB300 systems. The first 200-megawatt AI cluster is expected to go live in 2026.
The UAE–US AI Campus which will house Stargate UAE was announced last week in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and US President Donald Trump. Under the framework of the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, UAE corporations will also expand their investments in digital infrastructure in the US, in projects such as Stargate US.
Largest AI Deployment
The full UAE–US AI infrastructure campus spans 10 square miles and is the largest such deployment outside of the US. The facility when complete will provide 5 gigawatts of AI data centre capacity and regional compute resources, powered by nuclear, solar, and natural gas.
Commenting on the launch, Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, said, "The launch of Stargate UAE is a significant step in the UAE–U.S. AI partnership. As a founding partner, we’re proud to work alongside institutions that share our belief in responsible innovation and meaningful global progress. This initiative 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."
Transforming Vision into Reality
Sam Altman, Co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, stated, "Establishing the world’s first Stargate outside of the US in the UAE is transforming a bold vision into reality. This is the first major milestone in our OpenAI for Countries initiative — our effort to work with allies and partners to build AI infrastructure around the world. 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."
Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco, added, "Cisco is proud to join Stargate UAE to advance groundbreaking AI innovation in the UAE and around the world. By embedding our secure AI-optimized networking fabric for this international deployment, we're building smart, secure, and energy-efficient networks that will turn intelligence into impact at a global scale."
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