The initiative is touted by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the largest data center deployment outside America
A new, 5 Gigawatts (GWs) AI Campus has been unveiled in Abu Dhabi in the presence of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the President of the United States (U.S.) – Donald Trump.
The announcement was made during President of the U.S. – Donald Trump’s visit to the UAE. The data center will have enough power to sustain a major city. The initiative, touted by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the largest data center deployment outside American borders, will begin with the construction of a 1 GW facility and ultimately expand across 10 square miles. It is set to enhance the region’s AI infrastructure and extend the reach of American cloud and AI companies into the Global South.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC), UAE – His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said, “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, strengthening the UAE’s position as a hub for cutting-edge research and sustainable development, delivering transformative benefits for humanity.”
Taking it to X, the U.S. Department of Commerce tweeted,
A new, comprehensive 5GW UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi was unveiled today at Qasr Al Watan in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and President Donald J. Trump. https://t.co/Gt7S3wifq0
— U.S. Commerce Dept. (@CommerceGov) May 15, 2025
It further tweeted,
The campus, which will span 10 square miles within the Emirate, will be built by G42 and operated in partnership with several US companies.
— U.S. Commerce Dept. (@CommerceGov) May 15, 2025
The data centre will provide a regional platform from which the U.S. hyperscalers will be able to offer latency-friendly services to nearly half of the global population living within 3,200 km (2,000 miles) of the UAE. Once completed, the facility will leverage nuclear, solar, and gas power to minimise carbon emissions and will also house a science park driving advancements in AI innovation.
The UAE has been a pioneer in encouraging AI adoption in commercial and governmental activities. It was the first country to appoint a Federal Minister of Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and established the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in 2019.
It was also one of the first to launch a National AI Strategy in 2017, the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, and is on track to become a global AI hub. This ambitious roadmap prioritises transformative AI integration across critical sectors, including education, healthcare, transportation, and energy, cementing the UAE’s role as a pioneer in the global AI landscape. Speaking ahead of Trump’s arrival, the Minister of Education, UAE – Sarah Al Amiri, emphasised the importance of AI and tech-driven growth to the region’s long-term strategic outlook.
Trump has been working to push AI investment, as the success of U.S. tech companies are seen as key to retaining the U.S.’s position as a global superpower.
