In a historic move, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the first country in the world to provide free access to ChatGPT Plus, OpenAI’s premium AI chatbot service, for all its residents. Typically priced at $20 per month, this initiative is part of a broader strategic partnership between OpenAI and the UAE government.
The collaboration goes beyond just providing software access. It includes the creation of Stargate UAE, a major AI infrastructure project in Abu Dhabi. Set to host a one-gigawatt AI supercomputing cluster—starting with 200 megawatts operational by next year—Stargate aims to position the UAE as a global hub for artificial intelligence.
This initiative is a cornerstone of OpenAI’s broader “OpenAI for Countries” programme, designed to help nations develop AI tools customized to their local languages, societal needs, and governance systems, while ensuring data privacy and ethical AI use.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised the UAE’s bold vision, emphasizing the potential benefits AI can bring to areas like healthcare, education, and clean energy. The project is supported by a coalition of major tech firms, including Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Nvidia, SoftBank, and UAE-based G42, which is also backed by Microsoft.
OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon, is set to tour several Asia-Pacific countries to pursue comparable collaborations. The company has signaled that the UAE initiative marks only the beginning of its broader mission to support other nations in building their own AI infrastructure and expertise.
The partnership represents the UAE’s ambition to become a leader in responsible AI development and deployment, making cutting-edge technology widely accessible and helping drive national transformation through digital innovation.
