OpenAI is reportedly set to become the anchor tenant in a 5-gigawatt data centre project in Abu Dhabi, part of what could become one of the largest AI infrastructure builds globally, according to Bloomberg.

The facility, spanning approximately 10 square miles, is being developed by UAE-based tech firm G42 as part of OpenAI's broader Stargate initiative, a joint venture announced with SoftBank and Oracle to establish high-capacity AI data centres worldwide.

While OpenAI's first Stargate facility in Texas is projected to reach 1.2 gigawatts, the Abu Dhabi project would more than quadruple that. The planned scale would consume power equivalent to five nuclear reactors.

OpenAI and G42 have collaborated since 2023 to accelerate AI adoption in the Middle East. The partnership has sparked concerns among US officials, particularly around G42's past ties to Chinese firms, including Huawei and BGI.

G42 has since pledged to divest from China and shift its focus. In early 2024, Microsoft invested$1.5 billion in G42, and company president Brad Smith joined its board, reinforcing US-UAE tech ties. An official statement from OpenAI on the project is still pending.

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