OpenAI makes deals in Abu Dhabi on energy, investment and government
CNBC told on Saturday that OpenAI wants $20 billion in a funding round with UAE investors as co-leaders.
OpenAI made agreements in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on energy, investment and government. CEO Sam Altman had a meeting with Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Media Office told about the deals on Monday, with an oil firm, an investment fund and the government itself as partners.
The deals
- Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and G42 will use OpenAI technology.
- Mubadala, an investment fund of the government, and Inception42 will use OpenAI for investment analysis.
- The Abu Dhabi Government will put its policies and rules in data that machines can read.
Inception42 and OpenAI also made a 5 year agreement for AI in government, enterprise and education.
The money
MGX, an Abu Dhabi investment firm, put money in OpenAI and in Anthropic. It was a co-leader of the $30 billion round of Anthropic in February and the $122 billion round of OpenAI in March.
What is not known
The source gives no value or terms for the deals. The conflict in the region continues and is a test of its appeal as an AI hub.
Insight: An investor is also a customer
MGX was a co-leader of 2 large rounds in 2026, one for each lab. At this time Abu Dhabi is also a customer of OpenAI in energy, investment and government. OpenAI wants $20 billion more with UAE investors as co-leaders. This reads as a loop: an investor that is also a customer has more cause to want OpenAI to have a good result. Monitor who the co-leaders of the $20 billion round are.
Sources
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