The move is part of a major new partnership with OpenAI under the ambitious Stargate UAE initiative, which aims to build what would be the world’s largest AI supercomputing cluster.
OpenAI revealed that it is teaming up with Abu Dhabi–based tech group G42 on a high-profile project designed to create massive AI infrastructure under its broader “OpenAI for Countries” program. At the heart of the agreement is Stargate UAE, a supercomputing hub supported by global technology heavyweights such as Oracle, Nvidia, SoftBank, Cisco, and G42. The first data center linked to the project is expected to become operational next year.
As part of this collaboration, all UAE citizens and residents will receive free access to ChatGPT Plus, a service that normally costs $20 per month. This nationwide rollout is a global first and highlights the UAE’s strong push to invest in cutting-edge technologies.
Under the deal, G42 will also match OpenAI’s future investments in U.S.-based data centers on a dollar-for-dollar basis, pointing to a cross-border AI partnership valued at tens of billions of dollars. Separately, a U.S.–UAE agreement will lead to the development of a massive 5-gigawatt AI campus in Abu Dhabi. With enough capacity to power an entire U.S. state, the site is set to become the largest AI facility outside the United States.
The announcement has not been without controversy in Washington. Some lawmakers, including Representative Ro Khanna, questioned why such large-scale development is happening overseas instead of in U.S. states like Ohio or Pennsylvania. Others, such as former Trump adviser David Sacks, praised the partnership, viewing it as a strategic step to counter China’s growing influence in AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended the initiative, brushing off criticism as short-sighted and emphasizing that achieving AI’s full potential requires a truly global approach.
