OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has signed new agreements in Abu Dhabi covering energy, government and investment, CNBC reported.
The deals mark a deeper push by the San Francisco-based company into the UAE capital, a hub for sovereign wealth funds and energy firms that have been courting major artificial intelligence players. For businesses and investors across the Gulf, closer ties between OpenAI and Abu Dhabi institutions point to more AI infrastructure and capital flowing into the region as part of the wider technology push by Gulf states to diversify beyond oil.
Key facts
- Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, signed the agreements in Abu Dhabi.
- The deals span three sectors: energy, government and investment.
- OpenAI is the company behind ChatGPT and was founded in 2015.
- Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and centre of its sovereign wealth and energy sectors.
What the deals cover
The agreements touch three distinct areas of Abu Dhabi’s economy: energy, government operations and investment, according to CNBC’s reporting, first detailed by CNBC.
The move builds on OpenAI’s existing relationships with Abu Dhabi-based entities, which have positioned the emirate as one of the company’s key partners outside the United States.
Why Abu Dhabi matters to OpenAI
Abu Dhabi has emerged as a focal point for AI investment in the Gulf, backed by state-linked funds and energy companies with capital to deploy in computing infrastructure and related ventures. OpenAI’s latest agreements add to that relationship across government, energy and investment channels.
