Revolution in AI Access: ChatGPT Plus
In a groundbreaking move, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will offer free ChatGPT Plus access to all citizens and residents, becoming the first country in the world to do so. This initiative is part of a major partnership between the UAE and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, as reported by Axios.
The premium ChatGPT Plus service, which typically costs $20 per month, will now be available at no cost to users in the UAE. The offer is tied to a wider project called “Stargate UAE”, a massive data center that aims to become the world’s largest AI supercomputing hub once completed.
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‘OpenAI for Countries’ Initiative
This move comes under OpenAI’s new global strategy called “OpenAI for Countries”, which is designed to help governments develop AI infrastructure that aligns with their national goals. The UAE is the first country to benefit from this initiative.
The Stargate UAE project is a joint venture involving OpenAI and several major tech companies, including G42 (based in Abu Dhabi), Oracle, Nvidia, SoftBank, and Cisco. The first phase of the supercomputing facility is expected to be operational by next year.
Investments in UAE and the US
According to a report by The New York Times, G42 and its partners will also invest heavily in building similar OpenAI data centers in the United States. For every dollar invested in the UAE, an equal amount will reportedly be spent on developing US-based AI infrastructure.
Although OpenAI has not officially revealed the cost of the Stargate project, industry estimates suggest it could run into tens of billions of dollars in each country.
AI Campus to Power the Future
This development comes shortly after the US and UAE announced another major collaboration: the construction of a massive AI campus in Abu Dhabi, which will run on 5 gigawatts of electricity—enough to power an entire US state like Minnesota. The facility will be the largest AI project of its kind outside the United States.
Mixed Reactions in the US
The UAE’s AI push has sparked debate in the US. Some officials, especially from the Trump-era administration, support the partnership. AI advisor David Sacks has publicly backed the deal, emphasizing the importance of aligning Gulf nations with US-based AI technology instead of Chinese alternatives.
However, not everyone is on board. Some US lawmakers have raised concerns about potential security risks and the possibility of the Middle East becoming a major AI power, possibly rivaling the US.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna questioned the decision on national television:
“What happened to ‘America First’? Why don’t we put that center in Pennsylvania or in Ohio?”
Altman Responds to Critics
In response to the backlash, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended the UAE partnership.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Altman called the criticism “naive.”
“This was an extremely smart thing for you all to do, and I’m sorry naive people are giving you grief,” he said, referring to the criticism faced by David Sacks and others supporting the deal.
What It Means for UAE Residents
The UAE’s decision to offer free access to ChatGPT Plus marks a major step in its efforts to become a global AI leader. It gives residents access to one of the world’s most advanced AI tools and signals the country’s commitment to shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
As the Stargate project moves forward and the AI campus takes shape in Abu Dhabi, the UAE is quickly positioning itself at the forefront of the global AI revolution.
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