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

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