Free AI for all? UAE becomes first to offer ChatGPT Plus to every resident and citizen

[bnew]

Free AI for all? UAE becomes first to offer ChatGPT Plus to every resident and citizen - The Arabian Stories News

The United Arab Emirates has become the first country in the world to offer free access to ChatGPT Plus for all residents and citizens.

www.thearabianstories.com

Free AI for all? UAE becomes first to offer ChatGPT Plus to every resident and citizen​

The United Arab Emirates has become the first country in the world to offer free access to ChatGPT Plus for all residents and citizens.​

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Sunday, May 25, 2025​

Dubai: The move is part of a sweeping new partnership with OpenAI under the ambitious “Stargate UAE” initiative to build the largest AI supercomputing cluster on the planet.

OpenAI has announced the collaboration with Abu Dhabi-based tech powerhouse G42, launching a high-stakes project to create a vast AI infrastructure as part of its “OpenAI for Countries” initiative. Central to the deal is Stargate UAE, an AI supercomputing hub backed by industry giants including Oracle, Nvidia, SoftBank, Cisco, and G42. The first data center is scheduled to go live next year.


As part of the collaboration, all UAE citizens and residents will now have free access to ChatGPT Plus, which typically costs $20 per month. This nationwide rollout marks a world-first, underlining the UAE’s aggressive investment in next-gen technology.

G42 will also match OpenAI’s investments dollar-for-dollar in future U.S.-based data centers, reflecting a transcontinental AI alliance worth tens of billions of dollars. A separate U.S.-UAE agreement will see the development of a 5-gigawatt AI campus in Abu Dhabi—enough to power an entire U.S. state—positioning the site as the largest AI facility outside the U.S.

However, the deal has sparked political debate in Washington. Some policymakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna, criticized the decision to build abroad rather than in states like Ohio or Pennsylvania. Others, like former Trump advisor David Sacks, applauded the UAE partnership as a strategic move to counterbalance China’s AI ambitions. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended the global initiative, dismissing critics as “naive” and stressing the global scale needed to realize AI’s full potential.

 

[bnew]

ChatGPT Plus Goes Free in This Country Under New OpenAI Collaboration

Free ChatGPT Plus for all?

in.mashable.com

ChatGPT Plus Goes Free in This Country Under New OpenAI Collaboration​

Free ChatGPT Plus for all?


By Priya Singh
May 25, 2025

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> Tech


The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will become the first country worldwide to offer free access to ChatGPT Plus to all its citizens and residents, according to Axios. This initiative is part of a major AI partnership with OpenAI under the ‘Stargate UAE’ project, which aims to build the world’s largest AI supercomputing cluster. Typically priced at $20 per month, ChatGPT Plus will be available at no cost as the UAE embraces this cutting-edge technology to advance its AI capabilities.


OpenAI has announced a major partnership with UAE’s G42 to build a large AI supercomputing hub called Stargate UAE, as part of its new “OpenAI for Countries” initiative to help nations develop AI infrastructure aligned with their goals.

A report by The New York Times states that OpenAI’s AI supercomputing hub in the UAE is part of a joint venture with tech giants like Oracle, Nvidia, SoftBank, Cisco, and G42. The first data center is expected to go live next year. G42 will also co-invest in similar U.S.-based OpenAI data centers, matching UAE investments dollar-for-dollar. Though OpenAI hasn’t revealed total costs, the project is expected to run into tens of billions in both countries.


OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's global push for large-scale data centers is gaining momentum with the new UAE deal, signaling progress on his ambitious “Stargate” vision. This aligns with a recent US-UAE agreement to build a massive AI campus in Abu Dhabi, set to run on 5 gigawatts of power—enough to power a U.S. state like Minnesota—making it the largest AI project outside the U.S.

The UAE’s AI partnership with OpenAI has sparked debate in Washington. While Trump-era officials like AI advisor David Sacks support the move to promote U.S.-backed AI in the Gulf over Chinese alternatives, others express national security concerns and question why such projects aren’t built domestically. Rep. Ro Khanna criticized the deal, asking why the data center wasn’t placed in states like Pennsylvania or Ohio. In response, Altman defended the initiative, calling critics "naive" and praising the strategic move.

 

[bnew]

Khanna Criticises Trump-Backed AI Project to Open Data Center in Dubai

Ro Khanna criticises Trump's UAE AI data centre deal, suggesting it should be in the US. OpenAI may assist the UAE in a massive Dubai data centre, potentially the world's largest.

www.ibtimes.co.uk

Khanna Criticises Trump-Backed AI Project to Open Data Center in Dubai, OpenAI Set to Assist​

G42, linked to China, partners with unnamed US firms on a 5-gigawatt Abu Dhabi center​

By Vinay Patel @VinayPBPatel
Published 20 May 2025, 5:01 AM BST
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Rep. Khanna opposes a Trump-era UAE AI data centre, favouring US soil. OpenAI's potential Dubai venture aims for global scale.X / Ro Khanna @RoKhanna

California Democrat Rohit (Ro) Khanna has expressed disapproval of the Trump administration's arrangement with the United Arab Emirates to build a large AI data centre in Dubai, stating that the project should have been based in the United States.

During an interview on ABC News 'This Week,' the Silicon Valley representative asked if the UAE agreement conforms with the president's 'America First' approach.

Speaking about the president's visit, Khanna said, 'I don't like the fact that the biggest AI centre, research centre, is going to be in Dubai.'

Khanna's 'America First' Critique of UAE Data Centre Deal​

'I mean, what happened to 'America First?'" he continued. 'Why don't we put that centre in Pennsylvania or in Ohio? Especially western Pennsylvania, that's a place that's looking to get massive data centres, and that would create a lot of jobs.'
'Now, I'm all for collaboration, selling more into our allies in the Middle East, but we should be focused on putting the new technology jobs in the United States,' the 48-year-old Indian-origin Democrat said Sunday.


The Commerce Department revealed on Thursday that the AI campus, introduced during Trump's visit to the UAE, will boast a 5-gigawatt capacity and eventually span 10 square miles. Located at Qasr Al Watan, the data centre will be a regional hub for major US tech firms offering cloud computing and data handling services.

According to the Commerce Department, these firms will gain the ability to provide fast, low-latency services to almost half of the world's population located within 2,000 miles of the UAE. 'In the UAE, American companies will operate the data centres and offer American-managed cloud services throughout the region,' Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement Thursday.
'By extending the world's leading American tech stack to an important strategic partner in the region, this agreement is a major milestone in achieving President Trump's vision for U.S. AI dominance,' Lutnick added.

Another layer to this significant AI infrastructure development in the UAE is the reported involvement of OpenAI, the renowned artificial intelligence research and deployment company, in creating this massive new data centre.

OpenAI's Role In UAE's Ambitious Data Centre Project​

A Bloomberg report said that OpenAI intends to assist in developing a massive new data centre in the UAE, potentially making it one of the world's largest. This move represents a significant move into the Middle East alongside a major increase in the company's worldwide AI infrastructure goals.

Sources with knowledge of the situation, who wished to remain anonymous due to the plans' confidentiality, indicate that ChatGPT's creator will likely be a key initial occupant of a newly revealed 5-gigawatt data centre complex in Abu Dhabi.


These sources cautioned that OpenAI's participation is still pending, but an official announcement could be forthcoming. According to two individuals, Oracle Corp. is also part of this undertaking and is set to help build some of the initial infrastructure for the Abu Dhabi campus.

Upon completion, this extensive facility is projected to span ten square miles and consume approximately the same amount of energy as five nuclear power plants – a scale exceeding any data centre publicly announced by the ChatGPT creator or its main competitors so far.

G42 And US Collaboration On Abu Dhabi Data Centre​

According to residents, the 5-gigawatt power capacity will not be solely for OpenAI but will be distributed among multiple firms. Bloomberg News had previously reported on OpenAI's potential plans for a data centre in the UAE.

In a Thursday announcement, US and UAE officials stated that G42, an AI company in Abu Dhabi with prior ties to China, would be building a 5-gigawatt data centre alongside several unnamed US companies.

This development occurred on the same day President Trump visited the UAE, which was part of his Middle East tour focused on striking deals. During the president's visit, on-site officials were reportedly still negotiating possible AI collaborations for the UAE.

According to sources, a Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, MGX, is reportedly considering involvement in the data centre project alongside OpenAI and G42. This individual also suggested that other US partners might join the initiative.

 

[the bossman]

That's kinda dope

Meanwhile US still struggling to get even basic internet access to every citizen

 

[O.T.I.S.]

That's kinda dope

Meanwhile US still struggling to get even basic internet access to every citizen

Didn’t Trump cut Bidens infrastructure act?


I’m not really onboard with this AI glazing of late, but if they are building an infrastructure around AI I guess giving all of there citizens access to it’s most expensive model is a start.

 

[Cryptocurrency Scarface]

The UAE is a genocidal mafia state supporting genocide in Sudan by sending weapons and drones to the Rapid Support Forces. They most likely started hitting Sudan themselves when they realised the RSF were falling their plan so please don’t promote that demonic state here. The AI might be used for military purposes in the future just like how Israel uses AI against civilians.

 

[BlackAchilles]

Figures it would be an Arab Gulf state cause muhfukkas are LAZY and as hell

I remember this British show where they flew a bunch of fat ppl over to Kuwait to try and scare them straight; The man hosting them tried to ask ol' boy open his coke bottle for him when his hands were free, even this big fat bloke was incredulous at that level of laziness

 

[Dameon Farrow]

8000+ tokens. But seriously AIhas been a game changer. Not sure how far it'll go with this population. For all the fear around it it really is just another tool albeit a next level tool. You still have to know what to ask for. Then you have to know what you're looking at once its given to you. By no means does it 'do everything for you'. And that's a big talking point with the tech community. It DoEs EvErYtHiNg FoR yOu. No the fukk it does not. You still better get your ass to debugging and testing.