The new facility—dubbed the UAE-US AI Campus—is set to be the largest AI hub outside the United States.
In a landmark moment for global technology collaboration, the United Arab Emirates and the United States unveiled a sprawling new artificial intelligence (AI) campus in Abu Dhabi, signalling a major leap in cross-border innovation and digital infrastructure.
The launch ceremony, held at the prestigious Qasr Al Watan, was attended by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and visiting US President Donald Trump, marking a high point in bilateral ties and joint ambition in the digital era.
The new facility—dubbed the UAE-US AI Campus—is set to be the largest AI hub outside the United States. With an unprecedented 5GW of computing capacity dedicated to AI data centres, the campus is poised to become a regional powerhouse for advanced technologies, catering to nearly half of the world’s population across the Global South.
The campus is being developed by G42, a UAE-based technology group, and will be operated in close partnership with multiple US technology companies.
The campus is being developed by G42, a UAE-based technology group, and will be operated in close partnership with multiple US technology companies. It will serve as a launchpad for American hyperscalers and cloud service providers to deliver low-latency, high-performance digital services across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia.
Strategically located in Abu Dhabi, the facility will be powered by a hybrid mix of nuclear, solar, and gas energy, underlining both countries’ commitment to sustainability and emissions reduction. In addition to the data centres, the site will also include a cutting-edge science park aimed at fostering AI research and development, with a focus on healthcare, climate, and security applications.
The project builds upon the newly launched US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, a bilateral framework designed to advance cooperation on AI and other emerging technologies. Under this partnership, the UAE and the US will jointly regulate access to the compute infrastructure, ensuring it is reserved for US hyperscalers and approved American cloud service providers.
H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC), hailed the project as a symbol of visionary cooperation. “Today’s unveiling of this campus is a testament to the ongoing collaboration between our countries in artificial intelligence,” he said. “It reflects the UAE’s dedication to pioneering innovation and global partnerships that deliver meaningful technological progress for humanity.”
US Secretary of Commerce Howard W Lutnick echoed those sentiments, calling the AI campus “a historic Middle Eastern partnership” that aligns with President Trump’s strategic vision. “This agreement extends America’s leading tech stack to a vital regional partner and sets the foundation for new investments in semiconductors and cloud infrastructure both here and in the US,” Lutnick said.
The announcement is the latest chapter in the UAE’s bold AI journey. In 2017, it became the first nation in the world to appoint a federal Minister of Artificial Intelligence. That same year, it unveiled the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, aiming to integrate AI across all sectors of society. The establishment of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in 2019 further cemented the country’s role as a global leader in the field.
