At GITEX Global 2025, the UAE launched one of its most ambitious tech endeavors yet: the Stargate AI Campus, an extensive infrastructure project aimed at establishing the country as a worldwide center for artificial intelligence and cutting-edge computing.
The initiative, spearheaded by G42 in partnership with global tech leaders OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank, signifies a significant advancement in the UAE’s plan to enhance AI capabilities across various sectors. Constructed within the framework of the UAE–U.S. AI collaboration, the Stargate Campus will act as a foundation for the area’s digital evolution and a hub for AI research, implementation, and innovation.
Massive scale and vision
G42 representatives at GITEX stated that the initial phase of Stargate, which will have a computing capacity of approximately 200 to 300 megawatts (MW), is anticipated to launch by 2026. The overarching plan is significantly more expansive: a complete 5-gigawatt (GW) AI infrastructure campus, constructed gradually to satisfy the increasing computational needs of international AI developers and companies.
Once fully functional, the facility will cover about 10 square miles, featuring national-level compute clusters, low-latency inference systems, and a combined science park to foster innovation. The campus will utilize a hybrid energy mix of nuclear, solar, and natural gas sources to lower carbon emissions while providing reliable energy for high-density computing needs.
Global partnerships and challenges ahead
The Stargate initiative demonstrates the UAE’s ambition to spearhead the upcoming phase of AI infrastructure, yet its magnitude and collaborations have attracted regulatory and geopolitical attention. Later stages of development, almost 4.8 GW, remain in negotiation, mainly because of U.S. export regulations and security issues related to advanced AI technology and data sovereignty.
G42 leaders highlighted that the firm is involved in ongoing talks and negotiations with U.S. hyperscalers and regulators to guarantee compliance while keeping project progress.
The UAE’s AI ambition
As showcased at GITEX 2025, the message is clear: the UAE is not merely participating in the AI revolution it’s building the infrastructure that will define it.