OpenAI is reportedly set to become the anchor tenant of a new large-scale data center campus planned for Abu Dhabi.
Highlights
According to Bloomberg, the facility could span approximately 10 square miles—exceeding the size of Monaco—and require up to 5 gigawatts of power, comparable to the output of five nuclear power plants.
Still in the early stages of development, the site would be part of OpenAI’s broader Stargate initiative—a global collaboration involving partners such as G42, SoftBank, and Oracle.
The project aims to build a network of high-capacity data centers featuring next-generation AI chips to support advanced computing workloads.
Monumental Scale and Technical Vision
If completed as envisioned, the Abu Dhabi facility would significantly outpace the capacity of OpenAI’s initial Stargate location in Abilene, Texas, which is designed to operate at 1.2 gigawatts.
The UAE campus, expected to support around 2 million GPUs, would represent a considerable leap in AI infrastructure and could become one of the largest data centers in the world.
In addition to the physical size, the power infrastructure behind the project is equally ambitious. Abu Dhabi is planning to construct additional gas-fired power plants to support the data center’s energy needs, while also integrating the site with ongoing renewable energy efforts.
These measures align with the UAE’s broader digital and AI strategies aimed at balancing technological growth with sustainable energy development.
Integration with the Stargate Program
The proposed Abu Dhabi campus is a key component of the Stargate project, a global initiative launched by OpenAI and its partners to meet the growing demand for high-performance AI infrastructure.
As AI models increase in complexity and scale, the demand for specialized data centers with advanced hardware is rising rapidly. Stargate reflects OpenAI’s long-term strategy to expand its computational footprint to support both research and deployment of next-generation AI models.
Strategic Collaboration and International Partnerships
The development highlights expanding international cooperation in AI infrastructure. OpenAI’s partnership with G42, an Abu Dhabi-based tech holding company, began in 2023 and has since evolved into a broader alignment involving U.S. firms and Gulf-based investors.
In early 2024, Microsoft committed $1.5 billion to G42 and appointed company president Brad Smith to the G42 board, further strengthening transnational ties.
This collaboration also reflects geopolitical shifts in global technology partnerships. G42 has publicly adjusted its business strategy in response to concerns from U.S. lawmakers regarding previous engagements with Chinese firms, including Huawei and the Beijing Genomics Institute.
In early 2024, G42 announced its exit from China-based ventures and shuttered operations in the region—steps interpreted as moves to align more closely with Western partners.
Economic and Regional Impact
The data center is anticipated to play a role in Abu Dhabi’s broader economic and digital development strategies. The UAE government projects that AI integration and related infrastructure will contribute AED 24 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP by 2027 and create over 5,000 jobs.
These initiatives are part of national efforts to position the country as a regional leader in AI and digital transformation.
Supporting Global AI Infrastructure Needs
As the demand for computational resources grows in tandem with increasingly data-intensive AI models, OpenAI’s proposed Abu Dhabi campus represents a significant effort to address global infrastructure gaps.
If realized, the facility would provide the scale and computing power necessary to support future generations of generative AI tools and services.
By combining extensive energy capacity, advanced chip deployment, and global partnerships, the Abu Dhabi data center may become a defining example of the kind of infrastructure that modern AI development will require in the years ahead.
