News
Global Tech Leaders Unite To Launch Stargate UAE AI Supercluster
G42, OpenAI, Oracle, and other global tech giants will build a 1-gigawatt AI infrastructure hub spanning 10 square miles in Abu Dhabi.
In a landmark move for artificial intelligence and global tech collaboration, G42, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank Group, and Cisco have announced the launch of Stargate UAE, a next-generation AI supercluster that will form the core of the newly unveiled UAE–U.S. AI Campus in Abu Dhabi.
The project marks the first Stargate deployment outside the U.S. and will deliver 1 gigawatt of AI compute capacity. Operated by OpenAI and Oracle and built by G42, the facility will run on NVIDIA’s latest Grace Blackwell GB300 systems, integrating cutting-edge AI infrastructure with sovereign-grade data security. The first 200-megawatt cluster is expected to go live in 2026.
Spanning 10 square miles and offering 5 gigawatts of total AI data center capacity, the UAE–U.S. AI Campus will be the largest deployment of its kind outside the United States. Powered by a mix of nuclear, solar, and natural gas, the campus aims to minimize carbon emissions while driving sustainable innovation. It will also house a dedicated science park focused on talent development, R&D, and advanced computing.
Stargate UAE is designed to unlock scalable, low-latency AI capabilities for industries ranging from healthcare and energy to finance, education, and transport. It reflects a shift toward sovereign infrastructure that can power national-level innovation with global impact.
G42 Group CEO Peng Xiao described the launch as a “significant step in the UAE–U.S. AI partnership,” calling it a bridge rooted in trust and ambition. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman framed the project as the first major milestone in the company’s OpenAI for Countries initiative, focused on building global AI infrastructure with trusted partners.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia’s $5B AI Zone To Spark Tech Jobs & Global Innovation
Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison emphasized the role of Stargate in delivering “nation-scale digital sovereignty,” while NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang called it a bold investment in powering the country’s vision for AI-driven growth. SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son and Cisco’s Chuck Robbins echoed similar sentiments, underscoring the potential of this collaboration to fuel global transformation.
As global demand for AI infrastructure surges, Stargate UAE positions the Emirates as a frontrunner in the race to deliver secure, sovereign, and scalable AI infrastructure — with benefits that stretch far beyond its borders.
News
Saudi Digital Payments Reach 80% As Cash Use Shrinks
Visa data shows cards and mobile wallets dominate spending, with smartphones now driving a growing share of daily transactions.
Digital payments now account for 80% of all transactions in Saudi Arabia, according to Visa’s latest Where Cash Hides report, another marker of how quickly the Kingdom is moving away from cash.
The share is up four percentage points from a year ago. Around 67% of consumers are now largely non-cash users, paying mainly with cards or mobile wallets. Smartphones are taking a bigger role, with mobile payments making up 16% of transactions.
Cash is retreating in routine spending. Eating out dropped 9%. Bill payments fell 8%, as shoppers opt for faster checkouts and app-based payments.
“The data shows a steady move toward digital payments in Saudi Arabia. Such progress is possible only because banks, fintechs, merchants, and technology partners are moving together in the same direction, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” said Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.
Also Read: UAE Users Sleep Less, But More Efficiently, ŌURA Data Reveals
Despite the recent findings, it’s important to note that cash hasn’t yet disappeared. It still shows up for tips (39%), peer-to-peer transfers (28%) and rent (14%).
Visa points to security features such as tokenization, along with rewards and cashback, as factors nudging more spending onto cards and phones — a shift that tracks with Saudi Arabia’s wider Vision 2030 push to digitize commerce.
Saudi Digital Payments Reach 80% As Cash Use Shrinks
Samsung Confirms Galaxy S26 Privacy Display Mode
Lebanon Officially Licenses Starlink Internet
SIRBAI Unveils Autonomous Drone Swarm Technology At UMEX
iPhone 18 Pro Leak Hints At Under-Screen Face ID
Belkin Launches Wireless HDMI Adapter With 131-Foot Range
Clicks Bets On Physical Keyboards With CES 2026 Launch
Deliverect Rolls Out Self-Order Kiosks Across MENA
Emirates Post Issues Stamp Set Celebrating AI In UAE Schools
