Following major announcements about the United Arab Emirates plans to create one of the worlds largest artificial intelligence hubs, including massive Nvidia chip procurements, even more intriguing news emerged on May 17, 2025: OpenAI, the creator of the revolutionary ChatGPT, is reportedly preparing to play a key role in this project by becoming an anchor tenant and technological partner of the giant AI campus being built in Abu Dhabi, according to leading global media outlets (including Reuters, Bloomberg, and The Economic Times).
This ambitious project, which some estimates suggest could reach a capacity of 5 gigawatts and span up to 25 square kilometers, is positioned as the UAEs response to the global AI challenge and the nations ambition to become a leading global hub for AI technology development and deployment. The involvement of OpenAI, a leader in large language models and generative AI, lends this initiative an entirely new scale and authority. It is reported that OpenAI plans not just to utilize the new data centers capacities but also to actively contribute to its development, which could include providing its advanced models, expertise in building large-scale AI systems, and fostering an innovative ecosystem.
Although the details of the agreement and OpenAIs exact role may still be under discussion (some sources indicate an official announcement could be imminent), it is already clear that this is a strategic partnership extending far beyond ordinary computational power leasing. For OpenAI, this is an opportunity to significantly expand its global infrastructure, necessary for training increasingly complex AI models and serving a growing number of users worldwide, especially in the Middle East region and potentially for the "Global South." This also fits into the companys broader strategy of working with US-friendly governments for the international deployment of AI technologies.
For the UAE, partnering with OpenAI is a powerful catalyst for its National AI Strategy 2031, which aims at economic diversification, talent attraction, and leadership in advanced technologies. The creation of such a potent AI hub with the participation of leading global players, including Nvidia and now OpenAI, will not only provide the country with the necessary computing infrastructure but also create a unique environment for research, development, and commercialization of AI solutions in areas such as finance, healthcare, education, and public administration. It is also an important step towards ensuring a degree of "AI sovereignty" and developing domestic competencies. The global tech community will be watching the development of this project with great interest, as it could become a model for future international collaborations in the field of artificial intelligence.