OpenAI commits to giant UAE data centre in global expansion

Open AI's Sam Atlman. (Image: Getty)

Sat, 24 May 2025

By Eliot BrownOpenAI said it was partnering with United Arab Emirates firm G42 and others to build a huge artificial-intelligence (AI) data centre in Abu Dhabi, the ChatGPT maker’s first large-scale project outside the US.A Gulf state’s AI ambitionsOpenAI and G42 said on Thursday that the data centre would have a capacity of 1 gigawatt, putting it among the most powerful in the world.The project, called Stargate UAE, is part of a broader push by the UAE to become one of the world’s biggest funders of AI companies and infrastru...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Primary Sector

Why Richard Wyeth took the top job at Synlait Milk

Wyeth is no stranger to turning around a dairy processor.

Riley Kennedy 5:00am

Economy

NZ dollar eyes three-year low against Aussie

A 50bps rate cut isn't fully priced in but economists are leaning that way.

Rebecca Howard 5:00am

NZ dollar eyes three-year low against Aussie

Trade

Colorado, NZ explore global business opportunities

Two-way trade between NZ and Colorado totals $105 million annually.

John Anthony 5:00am

Colorado, NZ explore global business opportunities

Sponsored

Fiji’s exclusive side revealed

Private islands and 5-star luxury, closer than you think.

Tourism Fiji

Sponsored

The double edge of AI in cyber security

Artificial intelligence has the potential to become both a lifeline and a liability for modern organisations, as a revolutionary tool capable of spotting threats at lightning speed, but also the ultimate weapon in the hands of cybercriminals.

Spark