UAE & India Race to Build Mega AI Data Hubs by 2026

The United Arab Emirates and India are rapidly emerging as critical hubs for artificial intelligence infrastructure, signaling a new era of technology-driven investment in the region.

In Abu Dhabi, AI and cloud firm G42 is spearheading the UAE’s ambitious Stargate AI campus, a 5-gigawatt facility expected to redefine the country’s tech landscape. The first 200 megawatts are scheduled to go online next year, marking the initial step of a multi-billion-dollar project powered by a mix of nuclear, solar, and natural gas energy. Global tech giants including Nvidia, OpenAI, Cisco, Oracle, and Japan’s SoftBank are collaborating on the campus’s first phase, set to expand to 1 gigawatt in 2026. Discussions are ongoing for the remaining 4 gigawatts, though security concerns linked to geopolitical ties have yet to be fully addressed.

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Meanwhile, in India, Google has announced a $15 billion investment over five years to establish its largest AI hub outside the United States in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The 1-gigawatt data centre campus, developed in partnership with Adani Enterprises and Airtel, will include state-of-the-art energy infrastructure such as advanced storage systems and renewable generation. Indian officials note that the project strengthens the country’s position as a global technology hub and reflects India’s growing strategic role in the AI-driven digital economy.

Both projects exemplify the intensifying global competition for AI-ready infrastructure. With companies like Microsoft and Amazon already committing billions to data centres in India, the region is rapidly becoming a focal point for advanced computing. Analysts highlight that these initiatives not only enhance technological capacity but also provide long-term economic and strategic advantages in a world increasingly driven by data.

The UAE and India’s investments underline a broader trend: nations are now racing to secure AI infrastructure that supports innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. As AI applications expand across industries, these mega data hubs are likely to shape the future of technology development and regional competitiveness.