UAE revises AI data center plan after Iranian attacks, consider underground construction
Originally envisaged as a 10-square-mile (26-square-kilometer) campus in Abu Dhabi, the project will now likely comprise a network of data centers spread across the UAE.
The United Arab Emirates is adjusting its ambitious AI data center project, originally planned as a 10-square-mile campus in Abu Dhabi, following Iran's war and concerns over security, according to multiple sources. The project, known as the UAE-US AI Campus and built in partnership with American tech companies, may now consist of a network of data centers spread across the UAE, rather than a single location.
Authorities are considering ways to better protect the facilities from drone and missile attacks, including air defenses and underground construction. The project is central to the UAE's aspirations to become a global AI leader as it transitions its economy away from oil. G42, an AI firm controlled by the UAE's national security adviser and brother of its president, is leading the initiative, while US companies Nvidia, Oracle, and SoftBank are providing advanced technology.
Construction on the first phase, a $30-billion compute cluster, began last year, with the first 200 megawatts of capacity set to come online this year. Iran has targeted US-linked tech infrastructure, including two Amazon Web Services data centers in the UAE, prompting the UAE to reassess its plans for better security measures.
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