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The Stargate Project, a $500 billion artificial intelligence initiative, has officially launched its first international phase in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Announced by President Donald Trump earlier this year, the venture is a collaboration between OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, forming Stargate LLC. The project’s goal is to build a network of large-scale data centers to advance AI capabilities.
The UAE phase of the Stargate Project, known as Stargate UAE, is slated for construction in Abu Dhabi and is expected to begin operations in 2026. Once completed, it will become the largest AI data center complex outside the United States, with an eventual capacity of 5 gigawatts. The site will feature Nvidia’s cutting-edge Grace Blackwell GB300 AI servers, deploying around 100,000 chips across 1,400 units. The first phase will bring 200 megawatts online, with plans to scale up to 1 gigawatt. Strategically located, the facility is built to serve a 2,000-mile radius, potentially providing AI infrastructure access to nearly half the global population.
President Trump emphasized the project’s role in maintaining U.S. leadership in AI development. He highlighted the collaboration as a strategic move to strengthen ties with Gulf nations and counterbalance China’s growing influence in the AI sector. The agreement includes provisions for the UAE to import up to 500,000 advanced AI chips annually, a policy shift from previous export restrictions.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed strong support for the initiative, stating that the project is a step toward ensuring that breakthroughs in areas like medicine, education, and energy can emerge from more places and benefit the world. He also addressed concerns about the geopolitical implications of the deal, calling critics “naive” and emphasizing the strategic value of international AI collaborations.
“By establishing the world’s first Stargate outside of the U.S. in the UAE, we’re transforming a bold vision into reality,” Altman said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “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.”
The Stargate Project’s funding structure includes an initial investment of $100 billion, with plans to increase it to $500 billion by 2029. SoftBank and OpenAI have each committed $19 billion, while Oracle and MGX contribute $7 billion each. The remaining funds are expected to come from limited partners and debt financing. The venture aims to create over 100,000 jobs in the United States and expand its infrastructure to other countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom.
Today, we joined forces with @OpenAI, @Oracle, @nvidia, @Cisco, and @SoftBank_Group to launch Stargate UAE.
Stargate UAE will deliver 1GW of high-performance compute at the heart of the 5GW UAE–US AI Campus – designed to support the most demanding AI workloads and power… pic.twitter.com/5JHT77YdEM
— G42 (@G42ai) May 22, 2025
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