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UAE’s ‘Stargate’ AI Megaproject to Launch in 2026 with 100,000 Nvidia Chips

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A landmark AI infrastructure project in Abu Dhabi, dubbed Stargate UAE, is set to begin operations in 2026, becoming one of the largest and most advanced artificial intelligence data centers outside the United States. The project will be powered by an estimated 100,000 Nvidia chips, marking a significant step in the UAE’s ambition to become a global AI superhub.

The 1-gigawatt first phase is part of a broader 5-gigawatt, 10-square-mile site and represents the first outcome of a U.S.-brokered deal led by President Donald Trump. The partnership involves a collaboration between UAE’s state-backed G42, and major U.S. and Japanese tech firms: OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco Systems, and SoftBank.

Key Highlights:

  • Launch Timeline:

    • First phase (200MW) to be operational by 2026

  • Hardware:

    • Uses Nvidia Grace Blackwell GB300 systems, Nvidia’s most powerful AI chips

    • TrendForce estimates point to 1,400 servers, each with 72 chips, totalling ~100,000 chips

  • Scale:

    • Part of a 5-gigawatt megaproject to house the largest AI infrastructure outside the U.S.

    • Located on a 26 sq-km site in Abu Dhabi

  • Purpose:

    • Will allow UAE government bodies and businesses to access cutting-edge generative AI models

    • Positioned as a “first-in-the-world platform”, according to Oracle’s Larry Ellison

U.S. Policy Reversal

The announcement follows a significant policy shift by the Trump administration, which reversed Biden-era restrictions on exporting advanced AI chips to the UAE due to concerns over the country’s ties to China.

The U.S. Commerce Department will oversee a bilateral working group with the UAE to ensure compliance with:

  • National security standards

  • Ethical AI deployment

  • Global oversight of AI infrastructure

Strategic Implications

  • Geopolitical Impact:

    • The project cements UAE’s growing alignment with U.S. tech interests, even amid global tensions over AI dominance

    • Could challenge China’s AI influence in the Middle East and Africa

  • Commercial Influence:

    • Strengthens partnerships between OpenAI, Nvidia, and Oracle, anchoring them in the Gulf region

    • Offers a new AI deployment and monetization model based on national infrastructure rather than global cloud platforms

  • Regional AI Race:

    • The Stargate initiative follows Saudi Arabia’s recent moves to create its own multimodal Arabic LLMs

    • Marks a regional AI arms race underpinned by state-backed funding and global tech partnerships

AT&T to Acquire Lumen’s Consumer Fiber Business for $5.75 Billion in Cash Deal

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AT&T has agreed to purchase Lumen Technologies’ consumer fiber business for $5.75 billion, the companies announced Wednesday. The acquisition will give AT&T an additional 1 million fiber customers and bolster its national fiber footprint across several key metro areas.

The deal will significantly expand AT&T’s residential fiber coverage in markets including Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Seattle, according to an AT&T statement.

Lumen’s shares surged 13% in after-hours trading following the announcement.

Strategic Move for Both Companies

The acquisition:

  • Enhances AT&T’s residential broadband scale amid growing demand for high-speed fiber internet.

  • Allows Lumen to streamline its focus on its enterprise fiber business and invest more aggressively in low-latency infrastructure to support AI and multi-cloud environments.

“The customers are asking us to go faster, which is really to deliver their needs in a multi-cloud, AI-first world,” said Lumen CFO Chris Stansbury in an interview with Reuters.

Financial and Operational Impact

Lumen plans to:

  • Use $4.8 billion of the proceeds to reduce its debt burden.

  • Improve annual cash flow by over $300 million, largely by cutting interest expenses.

For AT&T, the newly acquired assets will be placed into a newly formed subsidiary, in which it plans to sell a minority stake, helping manage risk and capital requirements.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

Industry Context

The deal underscores the growing value of fiber internet infrastructure, as demand for high-speed, low-latency connectivity increases—particularly to support remote work, streaming, gaming, and AI-related data loads.

Reuters first reported in December that Lumen was exploring the sale of its consumer fiber business, which had been viewed as non-core to its future growth strategy.

Snowflake Raises Annual Revenue Forecast Amid AI-Driven Demand Surge

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Snowflake (SNOW.N) raised its fiscal 2026 product revenue forecast on Wednesday, driven by strong enterprise demand for its data analytics and AI services. The company’s shares jumped 6% to $190.09 in after-hours trading following better-than-expected first-quarter results and an upbeat outlook for the current quarter.

The AI boom has been a key growth engine for Snowflake. Through partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic, the company has expanded its platform to support customers building and running advanced AI models, particularly for data-driven applications. This has significantly broadened its appeal across industries prioritizing cloud migration and AI adoption.

Updated Guidance and Performance

  • Q1 Product Revenue: $996.8 million (↑26% YoY), surpassing analysts’ forecast of $959.2 million

  • Q2 Product Revenue Forecast: $1.035 – $1.040 billion vs. $1.021 billion expected

  • Fiscal 2026 Product Revenue Forecast: $4.325 billion (up from $4.28 billion)

On an adjusted basis, Snowflake earned 24 cents per share, beating expectations of 21 cents.

Analysts attribute Snowflake’s momentum to its ability to scale cloud-based AI tools for enterprise clients, particularly those building AI agents and automation workflows. The company’s flexibility in integrating AI across large datasets makes it a key player in modern enterprise cloud ecosystems.

The stock is now up 16% year-to-date, reflecting investor confidence in Snowflake’s strategy to stay ahead in the competitive cloud and AI infrastructure market.