A significant development in artificial intelligence was marked today with the unveiling of a new 5GW UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi. The event, held at Qasr Al Watan, was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and Donald J. Trump, the 47th President of the United States.
The campus is set to become the largest AI facility outside the US and will host US hyperscalers and large enterprises. It aims to provide regional compute capacity capable of serving nearly half of the global population within a 3,200 km radius from the UAE.
The project includes plans for 5GW capacity AI data centers powered by nuclear, solar, and gas energy sources to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, it will feature a science park dedicated to advancing AI innovation.
G42 will construct the campus over an area spanning 10 square miles within Abu Dhabi and operate it in partnership with several US companies. This initiative stems from a new framework called the “US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership,” designed to enhance cooperation on AI technologies between both nations.
Efforts are being made by the UAE to ensure secure access to advanced AI technologies through stringent measures. Both countries will collaborate on improving Know-Your-Customer protocols to regulate access for US hyperscalers and approved cloud service providers.
His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized: “Today’s agreement is a testament to the ongoing collaboration between our countries in artificial intelligence. It is an expression of the UAE’s commitment to pioneering innovation and fostering global collaboration in artificial intelligence.”
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard W. Lutnick stated: “Today’s agreement launches an historic middle eastern partnership on AI between our two nations... By extending the world’s leading American tech stack to an important strategic partner in the region, this agreement is a major milestone in achieving President Trump’s vision for U.S. AI dominance.”
The UAE has been proactive in promoting AI adoption across various sectors since appointing its first federal Minister of Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and establishing Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in 2019. The country continues its journey towards becoming a global hub for artificial intelligence with initiatives like these contributing significantly.