Microsoft Commits $15.2 Billion to Accelerate AI in the United Arab Emirates
Key Points
- Microsoft announces a $15.2 billion AI investment in the UAE.
- First shipment of advanced Nvidia GPUs to the region under a U.S. export license.
- Equity stake of $1.5 billion in sovereign AI firm G42.
- More than $4.6 billion allocated to data‑center construction through 2025.
- Commitment to train a million UAE residents by 2027.
- Plans to spend an additional $7.9 billion from 2026‑2029 on AI and cloud infrastructure.
- Partnership aims to position Abu Dhabi as a regional AI hub.
Microsoft announced a multi‑year $15.2 billion investment in the United Arab Emirates, including the first shipment of advanced Nvidia GPUs to the region. The deal, backed by a U.S. export‑license, will fund data‑center expansion, equity stakes in the sovereign AI firm G42, and a broad AI ecosystem that leverages models from OpenAI, Anthropic and other providers. Microsoft also pledged extensive talent‑development programs, aiming to train a million residents by 2027 and position Abu Dhabi as a regional AI hub.
Major Investment and Technology Transfer
Microsoft will invest $15.2 billion in the United Arab Emirates over the next four years, a commitment announced at the Abu Dhabi Global AI Summit. The investment includes the first‑ever shipments of the most advanced Nvidia GPUs to the UAE, made possible by a U.S. Commerce Department license that permits export of the chips.
Under the agreement, Microsoft has accumulated the equivalent of 21,500 Nvidia A100, H100 and H200 GPUs for use in the region. These chips will power AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, open‑source providers and Microsoft’s own offerings.
Financial Commitments and Partnerships
The $15.2 billion figure encompasses money already spent since 2023 and future allocations. Between 2023 and the end of 2025, Microsoft will have spent just over $7.3 billion in the UAE, including a $1.5 billion equity investment in G42, the nation’s sovereign AI company, and more than $4.6 billion toward data‑center construction.
From 2026 to 2029, Microsoft plans to spend an additional $7.9 billion, with $5.5 billion earmarked for capital expenses related to ongoing and planned AI and cloud infrastructure expansion.
Talent Development and Regional Impact
Beyond hardware and infrastructure, Microsoft is pairing its AI rollout with a large‑scale talent‑development initiative. The company pledged to train a million UAE residents by 2027, positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional hub for AI research, model development and governance.
The partnership also reflects a broader U.S. diplomatic effort to embed American AI influence in the Gulf, leveraging the UAE as a test case for export‑control policy and regional AI leadership.