Recently, OpenAI has partnered with the UAE-based technology company G42 to build a massive data center campus in Abu Dhabi. This project will consume up to 5 gigawatts of power, covering an area of 10 square miles, making it one of the largest AI infrastructures in the world, even larger than the entire area of Monaco.
This newly constructed data center is a key component of OpenAI's "Stargate" initiative. The initiative aims to provide powerful computing capabilities to support the training and operation of advanced AI models, meeting the growing demand for computational resources. Notably, the energy consumption of this facility will be four times that of OpenAI's first "Stargate" data center in Abilene, Texas, which has a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts—equivalent to the energy consumption of five nuclear power plants.
Source note: Image generated by AI, provided by Midjourney.
G42 is another key player in this project. Founded in 2018, the company is chaired by the UAE National Security Advisor and holds significant influence. The partnership between OpenAI and G42 was not coincidental; the two companies signed a strategic cooperation agreement in 2023, aiming to jointly promote the application and development of artificial intelligence in the Middle East.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, once stated in Abu Dhabi that the UAE had a forward-looking vision in the field of AI, investing early before the widespread adoption of AI technology. This data center in Abu Dhabi is not only a super project for OpenAI but also an important pivot for Microsoft's global cloud computing layout. Microsoft invested $1.5 billion in G42, and its cloud service Azure will serve as the technical foundation for the "Stargate" project.
It is worth noting that although the construction project of this data center is on a large scale, it is not exclusively for OpenAI. Other companies, such as Oracle, will also participate in the construction of the first phase. This collaboration model means that multiple enterprises will play a role in this critical infrastructure, further driving the development of AI technology.
The super data center that OpenAI is building in Abu Dhabi not only demonstrates its ambition for future AI development but also injects new vitality into the Middle East’s participation in the global AI competition.