The United States and the United Arab Emirates have announced a significant partnership to construct a colossal data center complex in Abu Dhabi, a move aimed at dramatically boosting artificial intelligence capabilities. The ambitious project is slated to reach a staggering 5-gigawatts of capacity, an amount of power comparable to that needed to supply a major city.
Announced on Thursday during a visit by then-US President Donald Trump to the UAE, this undertaking is projected to become the largest data center deployment outside of the United States, according to the Commerce Department. The initiative will commence with the development of a 1-gigawatt AI data center, eventually expanding to cover an impressive 10 square miles.
This collaborative effort is also expected to significantly broaden the presence of American AI and cloud computing companies in the Middle East, enabling them to more effectively cater to the burgeoning markets of the global south.
While the Commerce Department’s announcement did not explicitly name the participating companies, the presence of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at one of President Trump’s meetings in the UAE sparked speculation about potential involvement. Nvidia declined to provide any official comment on the matter.
The push for increased AI investment has been a priority, with the success of US technology firms viewed as critical to maintaining the United States’ position as a global superpower. In a statement, then-Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hailed the agreement as a “major milestone in achieving President Trump’s vision for US AI dominance,” emphasizing the extension of leading American technology to a key strategic partner in the region.
The UAE has also publicly stated its ambition to become a global leader in artificial intelligence by the year 2031. Ahead of President Trump’s visit, UAE Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri underscored the nation’s focus on diversifying its economy, particularly in the high-growth areas of AI and advanced technology. Investments in robust AI infrastructure are considered essential for securing the region’s economic future beyond its reliance on oil.
In a parallel announcement from the White House on Thursday, the UAE made a commitment to build or finance data centers within the United States that will be “at least as large and as powerful” as the ambitious complex planned for Abu Dhabi.
Souece: CNN
