Full Breakdown
UAE Revises 5-GW AI Data Center Plan Amid Iranian Attacks
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 11, the United Arab Emirates began quietly revising its plan for a 5-gigawatt artificial-intelligence (AI) data-center project that would be one of the largest outside the United States. The original design called for a single 10-square-mile (26 km²) campus in Abu Dhabi, but sources now say the project will likely be re-configured as a network of facilities spread across multiple emirates. The review follows a series of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran against Gulf-region technology infrastructure, including damage to two Amazon Web Services data centers in the UAE and one in Bahrain in March.
Background & Context
The AI campus, announced during President Donald Trump’s 2022 visit to the UAE, is central to the emirate’s strategy to diversify its oil-dependent economy and become a global AI hub. The initiative is led by G42, an Abu Dhabi-based AI firm controlled by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al Nahyan, the UAE national security adviser and brother of the president. In exchange for access to Nvidia AI chips and other U.S. technology, the UAE agreed to curtail AI ties with China and invest in the Stargate joint venture— a partnership of OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank that builds large-scale AI infrastructure.
Data & Statistics
- Planned capacity: 5 GW total, with an initial 1-GW “Stargate UAE” compute cluster.
- Investment: $30 billion for the first phase.
- First-phase rollout: 200 MW of capacity slated to come online in 2024.
- Original footprint: 10 sq mi (26 km²) campus in Abu Dhabi; revised design envisions multiple sites, potentially including underground or mountain-based facilities in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Official Statements & Responses
- Larry Ellison, Oracle chairman and chief technology officer, noted that once fully completed the facility will have enough capacity to connect every UAE government agency and commercial institution with the world’s most advanced AI models.
- UAE advanced technology ministry and other American partners—including Nvidia, Oracle and Cisco—did not respond to comment requests.
- Daniel Benaim, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Arabian Peninsula affairs and fellow at the Middle East Institute, described the regional conflict as an “economic earthquake” and emphasized the necessity of hardening critical infrastructure.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Changes to harden critical infrastructure are vitally necessary,” — February. Daniel Benaim
Why It Matters
The redesign underscores the growing importance of physical security for high-performance computing assets in conflict-prone regions. By dispersing the infrastructure and incorporating air-defense systems, drone- and missile-interceptors, electronic jamming, blast-resistant concrete, and redundant power and cooling, the UAE aims to protect both commercial and military data. The shift also signals to international investors that the emirate is taking concrete steps to mitigate geopolitical risk, a factor that could influence future partnerships with U.S. technology firms.
What’s Next
Authorities are still finalizing the revised master plan, and the impact on construction costs and timelines remains unclear. The first phase of the project is expected to continue on schedule, with modifications to protect the site from aerial threats while the broader network of data centers is designed.
