The UAE has moved beyond the first phase of Gulf cloud localisation. AWS already operates a UAE region, while Abu Dhabi is now the site of frontier-scale AI infrastructure plans involving OpenAI, G42, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco and SoftBank.
The challenge for readers is that several large announcements overlap geographically and commercially. This tracker keeps Stargate UAE, Microsoft-G42 capacity and Khazna's broader development pipeline separate unless the project sponsors explicitly connect them.
Stargate UAE establishes the largest headline target
OpenAI announced Stargate UAE in May 2025 as a planned 1GW AI compute cluster in Abu Dhabi, with 200MW expected to go live in 2026. G42 is the local partner, with Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco and SoftBank also named in the project.
The 1GW figure is a long-term cluster target, not a statement that 1GW is already operating. The 200MW 2026 milestone is the more relevant near-term execution test.
Microsoft and G42 add another 200MW expansion
Microsoft and G42 announced a 200MW increase in UAE data-centre capacity to be delivered through Khazna Data Centers. The partners said the expansion is expected to start coming online before the end of 2026.
Because the announcement is framed as an expansion of Microsoft and G42's cloud and AI infrastructure, it should not automatically be added to every Stargate headline figure without evidence that the same capacity is distinct.
Khazna remains the physical infrastructure anchor
Khazna has developed a broad network of hyperscale facilities in the UAE. G42 describes Khazna as the data-centre foundation for its digital infrastructure strategy, and the company has continued to add facilities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Its role matters because many AI and cloud announcements ultimately depend on a smaller group of physical infrastructure developers capable of delivering power, cooling, land and connectivity at scale.
What changes this tracker
The tracker will distinguish campus target, committed phase, construction, energised capacity and customer-ready IT load. That makes it possible to compare projects without pretending every press release represents the same stage of execution.
The next major milestones are Stargate's first live capacity, Microsoft-G42's 200MW rollout and additional Khazna commissioning disclosures.
| Project | Headline scale | Status | Next evidence layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stargate UAE | 1GW target; 200MW expected in 2026 | Planned / initial phase expected 2026 | Live capacity and hardware deployment |
| Microsoft-G42 expansion | 200MW | Expected to start coming online before end-2026 | Commissioning by site |
| Khazna network | Multiple UAE facilities | Operating and expanding | New site capacity and contracted IT load |
| AWS Middle East (UAE) | 3 availability zones | Operating | Service and capacity expansion |