The United States and the United Arab Emirates have announced a major collaboration to develop a massive artificial intelligence campus in Abu Dhabi. Touted as the largest AI facility outside the U.S., the project is being led by the Emirati firm G42 and will include participation from various American companies. The AI data center will span 10 square miles and feature a powerful 5-gigawatt capacity, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Although the specific U.S. companies involved in the partnership were not disclosed, prominent tech leaders including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, and Cisco President Jeetu Patel were present in the UAE during former President Donald Trump’s visit, suggesting high-level interest and potential involvement. The visit coincided with the announcement of several business agreements between the U.S. and Middle Eastern nations.
U.S. Firms to Operate AI Facilities with Strong Security, Boosting UAE Innovation Leadership
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik emphasized that American firms will operate the new AI facilities and provide U.S.-managed cloud services across the region. The agreement also includes robust security measures designed to safeguard American technology and prevent its unauthorized use or diversion, reinforcing the strategic and secure nature of the collaboration.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who announced the project alongside Trump, praised the initiative as a key move to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leader in innovation and sustainable development. The first phase of the project will involve building a 1-gigawatt AI data center, laying the groundwork for what is expected to become a major technological hub in the Middle East.
