UAE and US launch AI campus in Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates and United States have unveiled plans for a groundbreaking 5GW AI campus in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone in bilateral technological cooperation. The announcement came during President Donald Trump's state visit to the UAE, where both nations demonstrated their commitment to advancing artificial intelligence leadership. 

This massive facility, the largest AI campus outside the United States, will serve as a regional hub for computing power, catering to nearly half of the world's population with low-latency services. The campus will host American hyperscalers and major enterprises, providing critical infrastructure for AI development across the Global South. 

The project reflects the newly established US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, a framework designed to strengthen collaboration in advanced technologies. Energy efficiency forms a cornerstone of the initiative, with plans to power the data centers through a combination of nuclear, solar, and gas energy to minimize environmental impact. The complex will also feature a dedicated science park to drive AI innovation. 

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized the UAE's commitment to positioning itself as a global AI leader, stating the campus demonstrates the nation's dedication to sustainable technological progress. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the partnership as crucial for maintaining American technological dominance while expanding influence in strategic markets. 

The UAE continues to solidify its reputation as an AI pioneer, building on earlier achievements including the world's first AI ministry and specialized university. This latest development accelerates the country's national AI strategy, with applications spanning healthcare, education, transportation and energy sectors. 

Joint oversight mechanisms will govern access to the campus's computing resources, reserved exclusively for approved US cloud providers and hyperscalers. The project represents a new era of technological diplomacy, combining American expertise with Emirati vision to shape the future of artificial intelligence.

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye