The UAE's G42 consortium has announced "Stargate UAE," an ambitious AI data‑center project set to go live in 2026. The initial phase features 200 MW of processing capacity, with a long-term vision spanning 5 GW across a 10-square-kilometer complex in Abu Dhabi. G42 is partnering with OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, and SoftBank to build and manage the hub. Reuters

Strategic Significance

This marks a major shift as the UAE positions itself as a global AI infrastructure powerhouse. Stargate will host Nvidia’s cutting-edge Grace‑Blackwell GB300 servers—housing around 100,000 chips to support large-scale model training and inference workloads. Reuters The initiative follows a recent U.S. agreement to lift export controls, paving the way for the shipment of millions of advanced AI chips to the UAE. ReutersReuters

Regional AI Race

The UAE’s move builds upon its earlier launch of Falcon Arabic, a regionally tailored language model developed by the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). This release signaled the Gulf’s ambition to compete with the U.S. and China in AI leadership. Stargate is intended to complement these efforts by providing vast compute infrastructure locally. ReutersReuters

Technical and Economic Impact

The first phase centers on a 200-megawatt deployment—enough to power tens of thousands of AI servers—laying the foundation for what could be the region’s largest AI complex. The facility will anchor the UAE’s push in smart services, digital transformation, and government capacity. Experts note that such infrastructure could drive innovation in sectors ranging from energy to healthcare. Reuters

US‑UAE Tech Diplomacy

Following the landmark U.S. export deal allowing up to 500,000 advanced Nvidia chips annually to the UAE, Stargate UAE represents a tangible outcome of strengthened tech diplomacy. A working group led by the U.S. Commerce Department will continue oversight to ensure chip security and compliance with export controls. ReutersReuters

What's Next

Initial construction for Stargate is already underway, with the first phase slated to power up in 2026. Authorities say Oracle, SoftBank, Cisco, and OpenAI will collaborate on a layered stack—spanning hardware, platforms, and services. The G42-led consortium expects Stargate to serve both government and private-sector clients, positioning Abu Dhabi as a central node in the global AI value chain. Reuters

Looking Ahead
With Stargate UAE’s debut, the Emirates is set to elevate its AI ambitions—from language models like Falcon Arabic to global-scale compute capable of training next-generation systems. The coming year will reveal how this leap transforms regional tech ecosystems and rewrites the Middle East’s role in global AI competition.