OpenAI has secured agreements across the energy, investment and government sectors in the United Arab Emirates as the artificial intelligence company seeks to attract funding from regional investors as part of a $20bn investment round.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Sam Altman, met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as OpenAI reached agreements for organisations across several sectors to adopt its artificial intelligence models, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Monday.
The Middle East has emerged as a major hub for artificial intelligence investment in recent years, with major US technology companies signing agreements to develop large-scale data centres across the region. However, the ongoing conflict has tested its attractiveness as an investment destination.
OpenAI and Anthropic have also sought funding from Middle Eastern investors as they pursue increasingly large capital raises to finance their expansion.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX has backed both AI companies, including co-leading Anthropic’s $30bn funding round in February and OpenAI’s $122bn raise in March.
